Community Leader: 'Bad Satanic Music' Like SLIPKNOT Was Probable Cause Of Deadly School Attack

The head of South African police's investigative psychology unit has told The Times web site that rumors of Satanism and music playing a part in Monday's (August 18) deadly attack at the Nic Diederichs technical high school in Krugersdorp, South Africa should not be taken seriously.

Senior Superintendent Gerard Labuschagne was responding to claims that a schoolboy stabbed a fellow student yesterday because "Satan told him to kill the children."

Locals claim the boy was influenced by heavy metal band SLIPKNOT.

But Labuschagne said, "Whenever there is a murder, people jump to conclusions, and always God or Satan told the killers to do it. These notions shouldn't be taken seriously because it is straightforward: someone, of their own free will, can kill another person."

Community leader Pierre Eksteen, who is in charge of a school support network for children, said "Satanic" music was probably the cause of the attack.

"He came here camouflaged as the guy from SLIPKNOT. We know the wrong kind of music and drugs have bad effects. Young people need to be informed of the effects of bad Satanic music," said Eksteen.

The murder suspect has been identified by the News24.com web site as 18-year-old Morné Harmse.

"Watch out! He's lost it!" students shouted as Morné pulled out what looked like a Samurai sword and slashed the neck of Jacques Pretorius, 16.

According to News24.com, students said Harmse was "possessed by the devil" when he began his violent attack at about 7:20.

"Do you want to see something cool?" he apparently said to a girl student moments before he sliced through Pretorius's carotid artery.

Pretorius's best friend, 16-year-old JC Welman, was standing next to him when he was attacked.

"I was still wondering if it wasn't a joke but then I saw the blood bubbling out of his neck," Welman said, in tears, reports News24.com.

Pretorius died on the scene, said Netcare 911 spokesperson Mark Stokoe.

A reliable source said Harmse had brought four masks, similar to those worn by the heavy metal band SLIPKNOT, in his school bag.

Apparently he was also carrying three swords.

The source said one of the masks was white, similar to that of SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison.

Another mask was a clown mask, similar to that of SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn Crahan, and the third mask was a gasmask as worn by the DJ, Sid Wilson.

During the attack Harmse apparently wore the mask that is similar to the one belonging to the lead singer Corey Taylor.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted murder.

Watch SABCnews.com's video coverage of the Nic Diederichs "murderous rampage": Report#1, Report#2 (Real Player required).

(Thanks: Make Some Noise)