Bank notes may hold murder key

CASH used by the killers of a Suffolk man moments before he was brutally gunned down in cold blood may hold the key to finding the men responsible, South African police have said.

As the frustrated family of Gary Toleman consider legal action in their desperate search for answers, the man leading the investigation into his death revealed how a small amount of cash could hold vital clues.

Investigating officer Insp Raymond Mxumalo said: "We believe the killers bought some petrol from the garage (where Mr Toleman was murdered) before they killed him.

"It is only a few notes but we have recovered them and sent them away for forensic tests. We will then try and extract fingerprints and try and identify who was involved.

"There are also a few witnesses we would like to eliminate from our enquiries."

But Michael Toleman, the victim's brother, who lives in Bacton, near Stowmarket, said South African authorities had not contacted him since Mr Toleman was murdered by car-jackers in October.

Mr Toleman said he was left with little option but to look into the possibility of legal action to "push things forward".

He said: "We are trying to establish contact with the police in South Africa to find out what is going on and we are considering getting lawyers involved as we are so fed up with waiting.

"I am hoping the lawyers will be able to push things forward but at the moment I have no idea whether they will be able to help.

"We have also spoken to the British Consulate but I don't really know what they can do. The whole thing is so frustrating as I can't get hold of any real information."

Former powerboat champion Gary, 41, of Gedding, near Stowmarket, died when he was shot in the mouth in front of his fiancée Marlett by car-jackers after being dragged from his pick-up truck in the small community of Hazy View - a two-hour drive from Johannesburg.

An inquest into his death held in Bury St Edmunds last week recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.