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Durban homeowner shoots, kills pick-axe wielding attacker

Durban - A Sydenham, Durban, man shot and killed a suspected house robber who attacked him with a pick-axe late on Monday night.

The brutal attack was ended by the serving member of the South African National Defence Force, who struggled for his weapon while he grappled with the suspected robber inside the Spencer Road home.

According to a police source with knowledge of the incident, who could not be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press, two young children had been the first to witness a group of five men storm their way into the house.

"The young children had seen the alleged house robbers first and they had screamed. When their father heard, we understand that he had rushed to grab his firearm," the source said.

"The man was struck in the head by one of the robbers who was armed with a pick-axe and in the fray he managed to fire several shots in the direction of his attacker."

The man was wounded and died at the scene, collapsing on his back in a pool of blood, with the broken pick-axe lying nearby.  

Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said all five men had been armed.

"While inside the house, the victim fired on his attackers and shot and killed one man. The suspects also fired shots in his direction and in the course of the exchange wounded his wife who sustained a gunshot wound to her foot," he said.

"The suspects fled the scene in a Mercedes Benz which had been parked outside the house. No arrests have yet been made," Zwane said. 

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