by Thinus Ferreira
The Zimbabwean Below Deck star João Franco (36) was arrested in Turkey, according to reports, after he was involved in a fistfight, together with his brother, that led to the death of a 17-year old store employee.
João Franco appeared on seasons of Below Deck Down Under and Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo (DStv 124).
According to reports, "tourists, reportedly intoxicated, started arguing with shop officials because they were using foul language".
"The argument quickly escalated into a fight, after which the 17-year-old fell to the ground after being punched and hit his head on the stairs."
João Franco and his brother Karlos Franco were both arrested in Cumhuriyet Street in Çarşı Mahallesi in Turkey's Bodrum region.
Local publications in Turkey like Voices Newspaper and Haberler.com, report that João Franco and Karlos Franco were swearing and screaming profanities which escalated the argument into a physical fistfight at the clothes shop.
After the fistfight, the teenager sustained a severe head injury and suffered cardiac arrest.
João Franco and Karlos Franco were taken to the Bodrum Courthouse and are currently both in prison.
Before entering the yachting industry, João Franco and his brother built a business in South Africa manufacturing custom 4x4 overlander vehicles.
Several members of his immediate family live in Durban, and he has also maintained a home base in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.
