Rugby: Axe murder case has no rape link - police

The former Blue Bulls player has been accused of murdering three men. Photo / Getty Images

South African police say there is no evidence that a former rugby player arrested over three axe murders had killed his victims to avenge the gang-rape of his daughter.

Media reports said a former Blue Bulls Currie Cup player was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly decapitating one victim and hacking two others to death in a vengeance killing after the gang-rape and HIV infection of his daughter.

But police spokesman Vincent Mdunge on Thursday said the man, whose name has not been released pending an ID parade, did not have a daughter who had been raped.

"Rape has been ruled out," Mdunge said.

A fourth victim who said he had escaped an axe attack last week told the Cape Argus newspaper he had been confronted by a man who accused him of raping and infecting his daughter.

But Mdunge said police believed the suspect had been motivated by an "evil nature", not the rape of his child.

"The motive is evil-oriented," he said.

The suspect appeared behind closed doors in the magistrate's court in the eastern city of Durban yesterday.

The case was postponed until April 7 for a bail hearing to be set and for the accused to undergo a medical observation.

- AFP