South African man Grayson Beare charged with murdering Halima Hoosen-Preston and injuring her husband, Shaun, and her 14-year-old son because they were “supporting Palestine” appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court this morning.
It is alleged that Beare invaded the Hoosen-Preston home in the early hours of Sunday morning and carried out the fatal knife attack.
In a viral video, Beare speaks of why he carried out the attack. Asked why he allegedly killed an innocent person, he said: “She is not totally innocent,” adding that Hoosen-Preston “and her family thought it was entertaining that my cousins were killed in Israel.”
The case against Beare was adjourned to June 11 for a mental assessment and bail consideration.
According to a report, a video recorded by South African police shows the moment a man confesses to an attack which killed a mother-of-two and left a father with 15 stab wounds, supposedly because the woman supported Palestine. The attacker has been named as Grayson Beare, son of South African business magnate Julian Beare.
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A 10-year-old girl, who witnessed her mother’s death at their home in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday, told police they were attacked due to their support for Palestine.
Grayson Beare, 44, is accused of stabbing Halima Firoza Hoosen to death and critically injuring her husband and 14-year-old son.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, stated that the motive for the violence is currently unknown however, a ten-year-old survivor – thought to be the victim’s daughter – reported to police that the suspect claimed he was attacking them because they supported Palestine.
“The man also allegedly threatened to rape the little girl,” Netshiunda added.
“Police responded to reports of a stabbing on Hyder Road in the early hours of Sunday morning. Upon arriving at the crime scene, they found a man in possession of a blood-stained knife.”
“A woman was lying on the floor bleeding, so were two men who also had stab wounds. The woman was declared dead at the scene and the two injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital.”
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In a video spreading online, Beare, who is seen in ankle shackles after his arrest in what appears to be a hospital, is heard saying he has family in Israel and linking the attack to his alleged victims’ views on the war in Gaza.
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Grayson Beare, the son of the chairperson of both Beare Holdings and the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation Julian Beare, appeared in the Durban magistrate’s court on Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted murder after an alleged Islamophobic attack in the city.
Beare, 44, allegedly stabbed Halima Hoosen-Preston to death in her Glenmore, Durban, home in the early hours of Sunday. Her husband Shaun Preston and her son are fighting for their lives in hospital.
The Beare family has distanced itself from Grayson, who has previously been treated for psychological problems and substance abuse, saying they stand with Hoosen-Preston’s family.
Sunday’s attack has rocked the local community, heightening religious and racial tensions, because the assault allegedly occurred after an altercation Beare had with Hoosen-Preston during which she laughed upon hearing that his cousins had been killed in Israel. He said this in a video that went viral on social media, in which he identified himself as a former Zionist who has rejected the Jewish religion.
Addressing the public gallery on Tuesday, magistrate Ashwin Singh warned the large contingent of United for Palestine Supporters and Economic Freedom Fighters members to comply with the rules of the court and to remove sunglasses and non-religious headgear. He barred the public from recording the court proceedings, apart from taking written notes.
“The court is not a political arena for you to vent your frustrations. Let the court proceed in a dignified manner so that the constitutional rights of all are upheld,” Singh said.
Ahead of the court appearance the group had protested peacefully outside the court building expressing their support for Palestine, which Hoosen-Preston also openly supported, and calling for Beare not to be granted bail.
Prosecutor Calvin Govender said the state intended to oppose bail and wanted a seven-day postponement so that it could do a bail investigation and so that Beare could undergo a mental health assessment by the district surgeon. He asked for Beare to be remanded in custody at Westville Prison.
Defence attorney Nyameko Jodwana told the court that Beare wanted to seek protection because he had received threats in prison.
Singh asked Beare about minor injuries that appeared on his face and body.
“He says he was assaulted by undercover police,” Jodwana said.
Singh said Beare should make representation to the department of correctional services regarding his request for protection, and postponed the case to 11 June.
Beare (born King) is the son of Julian Beare’s late wife from whom he had been estranged for 30 years, the family said in a statement on Tuesday. Julian adopted Grayson when they married but has been estranged from him “for a number of years”.
“It is with shock and dismay that the Beare family learnt of the heinous attack on the Hoosen-Preston family in the early hours of Sunday morning,” the statement said.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Hoosen-Preston family, the deceased’s loved ones and community, and heartfelt prayers for a full recovery for those injured. We are shocked by the abhorrent violence and wholly condemn Grayson Beare’s actions.
“While nothing we say or do can reverse these violent actions, as a family, we stand with the Hoosen-Prestons and offer them our full support. We were also horrified by his deeply upsetting comments that we heard in the video currently circulating. We totally reject any association with what he said and what he has done.”
The family said Beare has previously been treated “for an array of substance abuse and psychological issues”, adding: “To our knowledge, he was still under professional medical care. The family will not assist financially or in any way with Grayson Beare’s defence. We reiterate that we stand firmly for and with the victims — the Hoosen-Preston family.”
Speaking outside court, United for Palestine’s secretary general, Imraan Subrathie, called for prompt justice to be served.
“This is a litmus test for us in South Africa of the justice system for complete faith and belief in our justice system. Today, I was quite touched when the court, when the judge asked this person [Beare] that you have a wound on your nose, and then he was asked again, do you have any other ones? This is the respect that we and our South African justice system even shows to criminals,” he said.
“We appeal to our supporters to remain calm. Let us respect, let us not stoop to the level that others have stooped to. We are peaceful activists and will remain peaceful. We will follow the law of our country. We appeal to all those who are in law to ensure that justice is served for the deceased.”
Alie Komape, campaign manager of Africa4Palestine, emphasised that the incident highlights the violent and aggressive actions of some Israeli supporters in South Africa.
Komape pointed out that this was not an isolated event, mentioning multiple attacks on Palestinian demonstrators in cities like Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg since the beginning of the Israeli campaign in Gaza.
“In light of these heinous crimes, we call for calm and composure in our communities. We trust our legal justice system to swiftly prosecute the perpetrator and deliver a sentence fitting the crime,” stated Komape.
