The Station Strangler: Part 2 – As the episode opens, Norman Simons (Ronald Mukaratirwa) plays hide-and-seek in the desert. The Station Strangler touches a stained, red and white striped, neatly folded shirt. Boysie (James Stoffberg), wearing a red and white striped shirt, sneaks up and grabs Norman’s leg. Unhappy with how long it took Norman to find him, Boysie says he is bad at the game and grabs his right shoulder. As the scene is ready to switch, Norman tells him that he does not want to.

AJ Oliver (Vaughn Lucas), Chris Eksteen (Ivan Zimmerman), and two other police officers arrest Leighton Johnson (Gabriel Plaatjies). He denies knowing the whereabouts of Evan Prinsloo (Ndalo Mshiywa). AJ places both his hands around Leighton’s neck. Chris warns against strangling him. Leighton claims to have only wanted to mess with the police. A short time later, AJ and Chris tell Micki Pistorius (Charlotte Hope) that Leighton was not in Cape Town when Evan disappeared. Chris informs her of Joey Adamse’s (Connor Isaacs) being scheduled for this morning. Louis Roussow (Chris Van Rensburg) says she does not need to be there but Chris tells her that he will take her.

Chris gives Micki an ointment to put under her nose before entering the morgue. Forensic Pathologist Wilimien (Kira Wilkinson) tells them that Joey was strangled with tracksuit pants, restrained, and sodomized. Micki questions why an adult killer would restrain a small boy like Joey. Chris suggests it was a “sadistic impulse.” Looking at the crime scene photos, she points out how the killer left it neat, not messy. She believes the killer is obsessed with the “anal phase of development” when children learn it is possible to control their bodily functions. She says the killer may be a victim of sodomy. A protest is ongoing outside the police consulate.

Louis brushes off Micki’s anal phase theory and promises to figure out the killer. AJ admits to having nightmares about his son, Ben going missing. Micki assures him that they are nothing more than echoes. Tino (Donte Fisher) tells Micki that Joey’s abductor was wearing a button-down shirt and spoke “soft.” She takes him back to the day of Joey’s abduction. He remembers a sticker on the man’s vehicle. Pastor Phillips (Themba Nofemele) gives him paper to draw on. Tino writes “IS” on the paper and says there was also an “R,” “E,” and an “A.” Micki writes the rest of the alphabet on the paper. He circles several more letters to create “Reading Is Fun.” When AJ questions if Tino is a reliable witness, Micki says yes. From Tino’s description of the killer, she suggests he is a teacher.

Tino works with an Identkit Artist (Traverse Le Goff) to create a composite drawing of the killer. Micki informs Colonel Cornelius Venter (Gavin Werner) of Tino’s composite sketch of the killer who is possibly a teacher. Jannie (Grant Ross) asks if they are supposed to visit each of the schools to see if any of the teachers are killers. Micki asks if he can think of a better idea. Venter sends the detectives to distribute the composite sketch around the community. At an unknown location, the Station Strangler packs his suitcase.

Elaine (Cleo Rinkwest) asks Micki to come home. Micki tells her that the boys need her there. The Head of Forest Close Primary School, Mrs. Damons (Carey Wallace) tells AJ and Chris that a member of their staff, Norman fits the Station Strangler criminal profile. She says he has been feeling under the weather. Inside his tidy classroom, she claims Norman would knock on the classroom doors and shout out, “Open up, it’s the Strangler.” She says he refused to take part in ground patrol. Chris suggests Norman knew the Station Strangler was not out there.

Chris calls Micki to update her on 27-year-old Norman Simons, a primary school teacher. He says Mrs. Damons’ description of Norman matches her criminal profile. A short time later, AJ, Micki, and Chris visit 36 Southeastern Road to find Norman away. Annie Simons (Sylvia Mngxekeza) says Boysie used to live there but not anymore. Micki warns that Norman may be in danger. She finds a “Reading Is Fun” sticker on Norman’s mirror and a reminder from Warwick Rehab Clinic for him to pick up his prescription.

Warwick Rehab Clinic – AJ, Chris, and Micki find Norman sitting on a bed. Tino picks Norman out of the lineup. Venter starts grilling Norman with questions about Evan’s whereabouts. Micki stresses the need to let him calm down. In the meantime, Chris’ wife, Linda Eksteen (Nicola Moerman) passes sandwiches out to the detectives.  The officer at the cells (Jerome Stationway) permits Micki access to Norman’s cell. She gives him a sandwich. He thanks her. A short time later, she tells the detectives that Norman claims to have been possessed by an “amafufunyana.” when he was young. Louis says he is going to utilize possession as a defense. Venter agrees to let her question him.

Norman claims to have felt the evil spirit enter him. Micki asks if he tried medical intervention. He assures her that medicine will not make it go away. She agrees with him, moves her chair closer to him, and asks about his first killing. He admits to killing for the first time when he was 18. He claims Boysie who is bad tells him to hide. Speaking in French, she asks what Boysie does to him when he finds him. Responding in French, he says Boysie will not find him if he hides well enough. He speaks seven different languages. She asks if Boysie hurt him. After admitting to having killed two boys simultaneously, he demonstrates how he immobilized and strangled them. She asks if he utilized the same technique to kill Evan. He smiles while studying Evan’s photo. Emerging from the interrogation room, Micki informs Venter that Norman has agreed to take them to the crime scenes. He compliments her work.

Monwabisi Beach – Norman leads them to an area where he buried his victims. Micki reminds Chris that Joey’s body was found there. Norman is placed in the car with Micki while the detectives search for Evan’s body. She tells him that the place is known for wild dogs. He says nothing should be left for Evan’s clothes. She asks why he waited a long time between his killings. He appears to be confused by her question and smiles. Chris informs her of Evan’s clothes being located. Norman is now facing murder charges.

During a phone call with Professor Jacobus Hattingh (Marce Van Heerden), Micki denies hating serial killers. He says she understands them which can be her superpower if she will let it.

Norman Afzal Simons was convicted of one murder (10-year-old Elroy Van Rooy) out of 22 that occurred between 1986 and 1994. He was sentenced to 28 years which he would serve out at Drakenstein Maximum Security Correctional Facility in Paarl. Norman was granted lifetime parole in July 2023.

 

Catch Me A Killer Review

Charlotte Hope is excellent in her role as Micki Pistorius. The dark and moody backdrop fits the narrative perfectly. The story is based on various serial killer cases that Pistorius was involved in while employed with the South African Police Station “SAPS.”

The first two episodes pay tribute to the victims of the Station Strangler, Norman Afzal Simons of Cape Town, South Africa. Norman was a suspect in the death of Jeremy Benjamin, Donovan Swarts, Fabian Willmore, Elino Sprinkle, Owen Hoofmeester, Marcelina Cupido, Neville Samaai, and five unidentified male victims ranging between 10 and 14.

The episode deserves a 7 out of 10. Get more Catch Me A Killer recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new and classic films and TV shows, crimes, and wrestling.