Armed robbers kill father-of-six

Fred Picton-Turbervill's funeral will be held on Thursday. Photo: Beeld Rich family history of murdered man

A father-of-six originally from south Wales has been shot and killed at his home in South Africa in front of his wife and four youngest children.

Fred Picton-Turbervill, 45, who also ran a furniture firm in Lancashire, was shot by one of two armed robbers who stole a laptop, mobile phones and cash.

He died at hospital in Pretoria an hour after the attack on Saturday night.

His father Richard and stepmother Ann, from Ewenny near Bridgend, said they were waiting for more information.

It is understood, the Picton-Turbervills were at home in Pretoria with four of their children aged between 10 and three on Saturday night when the robbers struck.

Mr Picton-Turbervill had asked the men not to harm his children but they did not respond, said his South African-born wife Ursula Picton-Turbervill.

It is thought he was then shot in the eye in front of two of the children.

"I didn't see it because he was behind me but my two older girls saw it and were traumatised," said Mrs Picton-Turbervill.

The Picton-Tubervills moved to South Africa five years ago

"The two younger children were round the corner but all of them saw the body and blood."

Mr Picton-Turbervill's funeral will be held on Thursday and his ashes will be scattered in Wales at the family's estate in Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan.

His father and stepmother live at the 12th Century Ewenny Priory, near Bridgend.

The couple said: "We know very little about what's happened. We are waiting for more information."

Police in Pretoria said they were investigating but no arrests had been made.

"They shouted 'sleep, sleep' and 'money, money'. I don't think they could speak good English," said Mrs Picton-Turbervill of the attackers.

"It's just so pointless - Fred was doing what they said and was no threat to them.

"Was it really worth a few cell phones and some cash?"

She said their four children were coping "remarkably well" with the tragedy.

Ursula Picton-Turbervill said she may move her children to Wales

"They are being very, very strong - they know their father would have wanted that," she said.

Mr Picton-Tubervill has two older children from a previous relationship and his son Jamie was celebrating his 21st birthday on the day of the shooting.

He has flown out to South Africa, along with his mother.

Describing her husband as "a wonderful and gregarious man", Mrs Picton-Turbervill said she first met him at a family barbecue 13 years before and had married him within a month.

After their marriage they settled in Burnley, Lancashire where Mr Picton-Turbervill ran his furniture business.

They moved out to Pretoria about five years ago.

Mrs Picton-Turbervill said the couple had been aware of the high violent crime rate in the Waterkloof Ridge area where they lived - their home was surrounded by two-metre high walls and electric fencing.

But she said she may move back to south Wales for the safety of her children.