Sport betting world outraged by stalwart’s murder
April 10 2012 at 09:00am
ANGELIQUE SERRAO
THE SPORT betting fraternity have been sending their condolences to the family of Top-bet SA director Michael O’Conner, who was killed on Thursday night.
O’Conner, who is also the owner of The Bullring at the Northcliff Corner shopping centre in Joburg, was in his office when eight men stormed into the betting lounge and held up the staff.
Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said while the staff were being held up downstairs, O’Conner heard what was happening and came down the stairs with a firearm.
“When they saw the firearm, they shot him in the upper body,” said Mogale.
O’Conner was certified dead at the scene and the eight men fled with cash in two cars. Mogale said police were still looking for the killers.
O’Conner was also the chairman of the Gauteng Off-Course Bookmakers Association. News of his death has been filtering through the industry and messages of condolence have been flooding the internet.
On the blog
www.african
bettingclan.com, many expressed outrage at O’Conner’s senseless murder.
Scotia remarked that news of the death was “shocking”, while Bloodshot said he was “sickened”.
“Mike O’Conner was a legend and an absolute gentleman. I have spent time at the Bullring, and Mike and his sisters and daughters are the most accommodating people that I have met. This is the saddest Easter I and many of the punters who knew Mike will have,” wrote Bloodshot.
