Ruth Lawrence, the alleged friend killer and international fugitive, was successfully extradited back to Ireland on Wednesday, 24 May 2023, to answer charges related to a double murder.
Ruth Lawrence extradited back to Ireland: Here’s what we know
Lawrence, along with her former fiancé Neville van der Westhuizen, was sought in connection with a double murder that occurred in Ireland in 2014, SAPS’ Major General Mathapelo Peters confirmed in a statement.
Van der Westhuizen, who is currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated murder committed in Kwa-Zulu Natal, was also been arrested on an extradition request for the double murder in Ireland.
The extradition process for van der Westhuizen is currently underway at the Durban Magistrates Court.
The collaborative efforts of the Irish National Police, Garda Siochana, who dispatched team members to South Africa earlier this week, along with SAPS’ INTERPOL NCB Pretoria, the directorate of priority crime investigations, SAPS detectives, and crime intelligence, led to the location and extradition of Ruth Lawrence.
On Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Lawrence was escorted from Bloemfontein to Pretoria under heavy police guard, where she was subsequently extradited later that evening.
The Irish police took custody of Lawrence with the intention of returning her to Ireland to face murder charges.
Over the past five years, the INTERPOL NCB Pretoria has successfully apprehended more than 60 fugitives wanted on extradition requests and INTERPOL Red Notices.
Of those 60 fugitives, 42 have been successfully extradited, and an additional 27 extradition requests are currently being processed in various courts in South Africa.
In addition, the INTERPOL NCB Pretoria has successfully traced and facilitated the arrest of 11 wanted fugitives who were subsequently extradited back to South Africa to stand trial.
It’s unclear, at this time, if this specialised law enforcement division was, in any way, involved in the extradition of Dr Nandipha Magudumana and Thabo Bester.