Brit, 73, is ambushed and strangled to death with his own belt outside his South Africa home as he's robbed for his phone for fourth time in six months
A retired British engineer who settled down in South Africa was ambushed in his car driveway and strangled with his own belt after popping down the pub for a beer.
Murder victim Karl Lauks, 73, was said to be the 'life and soul' of his adoptive town of Tulbagh 70 miles north of Cape Town known for its award-winning wines.
The AC/ DC rock fan was sent to the Western Province to work over 20 years ago but fell in love with South Africa's fourth oldest town and never returned home.
But on Sunday evening, after visiting his usual watering hole, he drove the short distance back home, unaware a killer was waiting for him to open his house gates.
After parking his Smart car in the drive, he was attacked before he could get out from behind the wheel and battered into submission and his leather belt taken off him.
The killer is said to have used Karl's scarf to silence him by jamming it in his mouth to stop his screams, then wrapped the belt round his neck and choked him to death.
The cold-blooded killer took his mobile phone – the fourth one stolen from him in 6 months – the murder weapon, wallet and house keys and left him dead in the car.
The bearded rocker from Bradford, Yorks, who also saw Pink Floyd play many times was only discovered when a neighbour saw his drive gate and car door open on Monday.
His cousin Tessa Muller, who is a chef in the Tulbagh Hotel where Karl was a regular for his full English breakfast most days, was called and asked to check on him.
She told Netwerk24: 'When I got there and saw the security gate and his car door open I knew that was not like him and feared the worst as I walked up and looked inside.
'I knew he was dead right then and there when I saw the scarf in his mouth and his eyes wide open and I knew I must not touch anything and I called the police.
'Karl was loved and probably one of the best know person in Tulbagh and would always be out and about having breakfast with us then his lunch at Herholdt's Pub.
'There was not a single day he ever stayed in and he was the life and soul of everywhere he went but as he got older the locals watched over him the best they could.
'For this very gentle man to meet his end like this is just truly horrible' she said.
His death came as the second wave of Afrikaner's left South Africa for a new life in the USA at the weekend having been granted 'refugee status' by President Trump.
Trump and sidekick the world's richest man Elon Musk accused South Africa of allowing 'white genocide' saying they turned a blind eye to the murder of its farmers.
Ironically police did not have far to go as their police station is in the same road where Karl was murdered as is the magistrates court where an arrested man was taken.
A close friend and fellow drinker at the Herholdt's Pub said: 'Karl lit his place up and a number of other bars in Tulbagh and now his regular seat is sitting there empty.
'His British sense of humour and jokes endeared him to everyone and he would always finish at the bar with 'one for the road' before 'going home to feed the crocodile'.
'Karl's 'crocodile' was a pit bull he bought called Wally for protection after he was badly beaten up in robbery for his phone last year and had his shoulder broken.
'The shoulder never repaired properly so he was seen as easy prey and it was known he had money and each time his phone was robbed they knew he would get another.
'He got a pit bull to protect himself at night but kept it indoors to stop him barking and I guess the robber knew that and attacked Karl before he could get in the front door.
'Everyone here looked out for him and watched him home if they could to get him in safely but that could not happen 24/7 and on Sunday his killer I guess was just waiting.
'Sadly the dog had been diagnosed with cancer in its legs and was in pain so when Karl was murdered it was decided the kindest thing was to put Wally down as well.
'Karl was a widower and lost his wife to cancer some 15 years ago and lived alone ever since but he was a rolling stone and just enjoyed being out and about having a beer.
'Tulbagh loved Karl and he will be well and truly missed – even for an Englishman! He would like me to say that. But in fairness he was one of us – a true local' he said.
A 29-year-old suspect was arrested and stolen property allegedly found at his home and has was remanded in custody by Tulbagh Magistrates to get a state aid solicitor.
Locals said Karl had a brother called Imants in Canada who is an extremely well known and much lauded inventor of pioneering products with many patents in the USA.
A Western Cape police spokesman confirmed: 'A 29-year-old man has been arrested for the murder of a 73-year-old man and remanded in custody until next Monday'.
Close friend and drinking buddy Neels Venter said on Facebook posting a pic of them together in their local pub: 'Mr Karl, Karl with a K, Our Carl. Your chair is empty.
'We will always remember to 'take one for the road'. RIP our Friend'.
Miranda van Wyk, a former P& O ship's purser, of Guildford, Surrey, said: 'I will miss you Karl with a K. My fellow Brit I will miss our regular chit chats when we were in the UK.
'Then we would laugh that we much prefer it here in South Africa. You were such a kind and gentle man, but also a true Gentleman, who always went above and beyond.
'So cruelly taken from us, no one deserves that ending, least of all you. RIP Karl'
Close friend Inga Christensen said: 'I hope the evil culprit that ended your life gets the karma they deserve. You were a loving soul full of wit and wicked sense of humour.
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