FAMILY and former colleagues of the Lancashire father-to-be murdered in South Africa this week told of their grief at his tragic death.

Stuart Gaskell, 26, was bound and beaten before being shot twice in the head at the truck company where he worked in Cape Town last Friday night.

His 25-year-old wife Estelle, who hours earlier had discovered she was pregnant, and Mr Gaskell's mother Sheila Park, were tied up, gagged and bundled into a truck during the attack by a gang of around five men.

The victim's stepfather, Edgar Park, a baker in Burnley, had stayed at home while his wife visited her son. He spoke of the tragedy: "It should have been such a happy occasion. They should have been celebrating Estelle's pregnancy. Estelle cannot talk about it."

Mr Gaskell had left his home in Bacup and his job at ANC Carriers in Ribbleton just a few months ago to start a new life in South Africa.

ANC operations director Stephen Allen told the Citizen that Mr Gaskell's colleagues were all very upset by the death of their 'happy-go-lucky' workmate. He said: "Stuart was both well liked and well respected. He was a great practical joker."

Mr Allen said: "Stuart went out to South Africa hoping for a better life. He was attracted by the higher standard of living and he had relatives out there." Mr Gaskell's family plans a remembrance service in Burnley.

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