A South African court has convicted three individuals linked to ISIS ideology for the 2018 murders of British botanists Rod and Rachel Saunders, a case that drew international attention for its cross-border complexity and the financial trail that ultimately led to the suspects' arrest.
The couple, known for their work collecting rare seeds and contributing to botanical research, were attacked while on an expedition in KwaZulu-Natal. According to court findings, they were ambushed, tortured for access to their bank accounts, and later killed before their bodies were dumped in a crocodile-infested river in an attempt to conceal the crime.
