Chef sees hoteliers gunned down
08/11/2007 23:05 - (SA)









Hotel owners gunned down

Robbers 'bury' man alive







Sandile Waka-Zamisa, Stephanie Saville and Dries Liebenberg

Pietermaritzburg - The tight-knit community of Wartburg has been rocked by the murders of the owners of the Wartburger Hof Hotel, Siggy, 68, and Ingrid, 63, Schädle, on Wednesday night.

According to police, a gunman entered the Wartburger Hof at 22:00 on Wednesday and shot the couple at point-blank range.

The small town was in shock as news of the murders quickly spread. The hotel was closed for business on Thursday morning, but several vehicles were parked outside the gate as residents flocked to express their condolences.

Business owners and others in the town have reacted with shock to the killings.

Police spokesperson Henry Budhram said a hotel chef saw the killings.

He said the gunman shot Ingrid first as she stood behind the counter before turning the gun on her husband.

"The gunman shot Ingrid and went to the lounge and fired several shots. He escaped in a vehicle that was parked outside."

Ingrid had a gunshot wound to her left shoulder and Siggi was shot several times.

Chef Max Haller said he had been busy talking to a plumber in the kitchen when he heard a scream, followed by a shot.

He ran through to the reception area and saw a man wielding a gun. Haller ran back to press the panic button and heard more shots.

Revenge killings suspected

All the guests were apparently in their rooms at the time.

Haller said the couple were survived by a son, Chris, who worked with them, and a daughter, Tina Piccione, who had emigrated to Australia recently.

The motive for the killings has not yet been established, but sources told The Witness that the killing might have been related to a revenge attack by an ex-employee who held a grudge against the Schädles, after being fired for allegedly stealing meat.

Budhram said nothing had been stolen from the hotel. Several 9mm casings were found at the hotel. - The Witness / Beeld

Today started out ok I guess I was still full of flu but had to come to work to open the office.

Then my mother called... she told me friends of hers & mine were murdered last night.

Here is the news article about the Murders:

There’ve been two brutal murders at Wartburg in the Midlands. The owners of the Wartburg Hof Hotel - on the main Wartburg road - were attacked and killed last night…

Siggi Schaedle, 68, and his wife Ingrid, 63, were at their hotel at around 10pm when a gunman entered the premises.

He apparently went straight to Ingrid, who was at the reception desk, and shot her.

The chef at the hotel says he heard Ingrid’s screams and went to investigate.

That’s when he saw the attacker enter the lounge where Siggi was. Several gunshots rang out and Siggi died where he fell.

The police’s Henry Budhram says the gunman - a well-built man - then fled the scene; driving off in a car parked outside.

Nothing was taken and the not known at this stage. Police investigations are underway.

My thoughts & prayers go out to their son Chris & all the ppl of Wartburg who are a very close knit community.

Rest in Peace Siggie & Ingrid...you will be missed

Am full of flu & feeling a bit crappy, but I have to earn my keep. Vj has a shor break from his exams at only wirtes again on the 8th, yippee I can relax for a bit.

I decided to post the following pic of Dylan with his mom, dad & uncle, the little man had so much fun on Sunday.



ok now for a pic of Steffy I promise I did not do this, my housekeeper thought it was a good idea at the time.

Well i was supposed to be resting on Friday as I took the day off work.... yeah right a mothers work is never done. VJ had 2 exams to write & was as sick as a dog.
The girls were rather well behaved. Not sure who is tressing more about these exams VJ or me.... I have a funny feeling its me.
Daniel starts his exams on the 12th so my stress levels are going to be through the roof.

Sunday we went to fetch R & GB for the day, it was so nice to have them both with us. Hope we get to do it more often. R really needs a lot of support atm as he ex is giving her a really hard time, I wish he would move out already.

Work is much the same my assistant officiaaly starts on the 15th I can not wait. *bounce*

Now the BIG news...... Steffys adoption report has been handed in to the court please keep your fingers & toes crossed that it gets granted soon with NO problems.....

Well have a great day chat to you all soon

Well things are hectic as usual. Vj is writing exams he only finishes on the 22nd of Nov, I am not sure my nerves are going to survive.

Keira is now 3, I still can not get over how quickly they grow...( like weeds)

We have submitted the aderts we place in the local Zulu newspaper to the courts, our social worker will be sending in her report soon. I am hoping this will be over before Xmas but I do not want to get my hopes up.

Dh is working his butt off. He really needs a break.

As for me my ASSISTANT is going to be starting soon, I am sooooo happy about this as I really can not cope with my work load.

I am taking Friday off work we were supposed to go away this weekend but unfortunatly it was cancelled.. will have to see when we can sneak off.

Daniel started exams today I honest hope he does well. I have noticed that he has started having this really nasty attitude it really bothers me I had a talking to him yesterday about it & hope is gets sorted out soon.

GB's mom is going through a rough patch, she needs all the support she can get right now. I should have her & GB over this weekend. I cant wait to see my little man.

TRADITION:

We started a tradition on Keira's first birthday to carve a pumpkin. This year's pumpkin is HUGE & has been named Joe... dont ask its a really long story. Anyway we put Joe on the roof of our garage last night with a candle in him, he looked rather scarey I think the locals stayed miles away from our house.
The first year we did the pumpkins there was a pumpkin fight in my sunroom everyone & everything was covered in the pumpkin insides *yuk*. GB's moms hair was a delicate shade of Orange.

Oh well hope you all had a great Halloween.

Take care, time for me to earn my keep...Huggles