US Embassy employee killed with knife in South Africa; suspect due in court

JOHANNESBURG – An official in South Africa says a woman suspected of murdering an American Embassy employee over the weekend will appear in court Tuesday.

The U.S. Embassy on Monday confirmed the death of Christopher "Norm" Bates, who was the information management officer at the Johannesburg U.S. Consulate. He was an 11-year State Department employee.

Police Lt. Col. Lungelo Dlamini said the 41-year-old Bates was allegedly stabbed to death Sunday morning around 3 a.m. at a Johannesburg apartment. Dlamini said a guard heard a woman screaming and saw the woman with a knife in her hand and Bates with stab wounds.

Dlamini said the 29-year-old woman would appear in court Tuesday.