A South African man from a prominent Jewish family has described why he stabbed to death a mother and wounded her husband and son in a suburb of the eastern city of Durban, a shocking admission that has sparked outrage in the country which leads a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Grayson Beare, 44, who has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder over the attack, which took place on Sunday, said he attacked the family for their pro-Palestine views, according to local media and a viral video.
The video on social media from what appears to be a waiting area of the Durban Magistrates Court shows the suspect being questioned by someone off camera where Beare says he used a knife to attack Halima Hoosen-Preston early on Sunday and critically wound her husband and 14-year-old son.
He says he attacked Hoosen-Preston because she hated his family and friends. "She and her family thought that it was entertaining that my cousins were killed in Israel," he claims.
"The woman died, and her family members, who were also allegedly stabbed multiple times, were seriously injured," said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, a spokeswoman for the National Prosecuting Authority.
Beare was arrested at the crime scene — the home of the victims — in the early hours of Sunday "in possession of a blood-stained knife", police said.
"The woman was declared dead at the scene and the two injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital."
Detectives initially said the motive of the violence was not clear.
But a 10-year-old survivor — understood to be the woman's daughter — told investigators that "the suspect stated that he was stabbing them because they supported Palestine."
On Tuesday, Beare appeared before the court where the charges were read. The case was adjourned the case to June 11 to allow Beare to undergo a mental assessment.
Beare is the son of the chairperson of both Beare Holdings and the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation Julian Beare.