UK seeking extradition of triple murder suspect

A man suspected of killing his wife and two daughters in Bedfordshire has been in court in South Africa after UK authorities submitted an application to extradite him.

Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were found dead by police in a house in Great Denham, near Bedford, on 6 July.

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who is a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, was arrested on Friday night in Johannesburg.

The Crown Prosecution Service in Britain has authorised three murder charges against him.

South African police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe explained that the court proceedings concern the extradition request and a charge of the illegal possession of firearms.

She said: "We can confirm that South Africa has received a provisional extradition request from Interpol Manchester through to Interpol Pretoria.

"We will be awaiting a full extradition request within 40 days, which will include the case docket as well as supporting evidence.

"However, we can confirm that for now, we do have the warrant of arrest from UK authorities."

In a tribute, family members said "words cannot begin to express the depth of our emptiness and sorrow in the fact of this tragic and senseless loss of life".

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