Two convicted of killing farmer

Pietermaritzburg - Two Durban men have been convicted of killing Ixopo farmer Peter Hackland and assaulting his daughter, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg ruled on Friday.

Judge Portia Poyo-Dlwati found that Nkosinathi Mngadi, 29, and Sifiso Ngubane, 24, went to Hackland's farm, attacked him and his daughter, Louise Hartwig, and shot him dead.

The attack happened in May 2013.

The court was told that Hartwig, who was studying in the home, heard her 61-year-old father shouting outside.

Despite seeing a man with a gun she rushed out and shouted at them. She was manhandled into the home where she was assaulted and told to open the safe because they wanted money.

Hackland was shot in the home and died. One of the assailants directed pepper spray into the eyes of Hartwig's frail grandmother (Hackland's mother-in-law).

The accused were not charged with this assault as the prosecution believed she was too frail to testify and be cross-examined.

Poyo-Dlwati said Hartwig was very brave as she tried to save her father.

Fellow farmers said that Hackland had farmed citrus, timber and sugar-cane.

He helped local community members and was planning to build a hydro-electrical scheme for them. Sentencing will start on 22 October.