In happier times, Nicolas le Roux with his wife, Taryn. The former soldier is expected to appear before Durban High Court in April.
Image: Facebook / Taryn le Roux
Former soldier Nicolas Frederik le Roux, accused of fatally shooting his wife Taryn after a heated argument at a Westville restaurant on September 15, 2025, has been served with an indictment and is set to appear in the Durban High Court.
On Friday morning, senior State prosecutor Advocate Krishen Shah informed Le Roux at the Pinetown Magistrate's Court that the matter would be transferred to the High Court.
Le Roux, who appeared virtually from the Westville Prison, faces charges of murder, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition.
According to Shah, Le Roux was a close protector with the SANDF Special Forces unit and had worked abroad.
He allegedly owned three unlicensed firearms — a revolver, a shotgun, and a Colt pistol — which he kept at his marital home despite their licences having expired. Shah stated that the Colt pistol was the one Le Roux carried daily in South Africa.
The indictment detailed a fractious relationship, fuelled by Le Roux’s suspicions of Taryn’s infidelity and his poor relationship with her foster son.
“He was physically and verbally abusive towards the deceased,” Shah said, reading the indictment.
In 2019, Taryn obtained a protection order against her husband. On August 18, 2025, upon returning from work in Somalia, Le Roux saw photographs of Taryn and her employer. He subsequently accused her of infidelity, subjecting her to verbal abuse and threats.
Former soldier Nicolas le Roux is accused of killing his wife, Taryn.
Image: Nomonde Zondi
The couple had a serious argument on September 14, 2025, which escalated to the point where private security had to intervene to de-escalate the situation. Despite their conflicts, they argued again on the fateful day but eventually reconciled and decided to have lunch together at Waxy’s Restaurant in Westville.
“During the course of their meal, they again argued. The accused walked out of the restaurant. He drew his firearm, returned to Taryn, and asked her to call the police before shooting her in the head,” Shah explained.
Le Roux remained at the scene and surrendered. A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. The other two firearms were seized from his residence post-arrest.
During Le Roux's bail application, Shah referenced a confession he allegedly made immediately after the shooting: “I shot Taryn, I shot Taryn in the face, she doesn’t want to stop, she doesn’t want to f***ing listen to me.”
Additionally, Shah presented a statement from Taryn's adopted son, Daniel Wilson, detailing years of terror inflicted by the former soldier, who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.
Wilson recalled Le Roux spitting in his mother’s face, issuing death threats, and hurling insults. Le Roux was quoted as telling Taryn: “It's people like that who put people like me in jail and them in a mortuary.”
Le Roux is scheduled to make his first appearance in the Durban High Court on April 16.
nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za