Mrs Derby –
permanently paralysed after metro-cop fires shots for no apparent reason
March 13 2011 MIDRAND. As has only become known to us today, the Star
journalist Solly Maphumulo writes that a woman identified only as Mrs “Derby”
was permanently paralysed after a municipal cop (has since admitted) firing
shots at the car, driven by her fiancee Bruce. The couple was shot at after
they were allowed through a road-block set up by the Johannesburg
metro-cops on Sunday March 13 2011 which was ‘searching for drunk-drivers’.
It’s not known why the metro- cop decided to fire the (up to 6) shots
which were heard by Bruce as he drove away in his car (picture below) . A
metro-cop has since then come forward admitting he had ‘ fired shots but that
he had not reported it because he thought he’d missed the car’.
Mrs Derby now is permanently paralysed: a bullet has entered her spine.
When rushed to Tembisa Hospital, it was found that she could not afford the
R40,000-deposit to pay for private care — and the metropolitan police department
now is being sued in the hope that after expected years of litigation, the city
taxpayers would eventually pay for her health-care. The ‘matter is being
investigated’ said metro police Inspector Edna Mamonyane in March. It’s not
known what has happened to this case since that time.
Picture: Bruce’s car showed the impact-holes and
indentations from several bullets: one bullet travelled through the car and
penetrated his 34-year-old fiancee ‘s spine, leaving her permanently paralysed.
______________________
This is according to a confidential source within
the Johannesburg Metro Police Department who deals with internal
investigations.
The woman, who had been travelling with her fiancé in the car, was shot at a roadblock and possibly left permanently paralysed, believes the metro police were responsible for the attack.The source phoned a friend of the couple who were shot at to inform him that after the metro cops who had manned the roadblock were summoned to the office on Wednesday, one officer admitted he fired a shot.
On Wednesday afternoon, metro police Inspector Edna Mamonyane confirmed that the JMPD had held a roadblock in Midrand on Sunday at about 7pm. Earlier in the day, she had denied this, saying the attackers may have been ‘bogus police officers’.
The officer who fired at the couple said he had not reported the matter because he thought ‘ he had missed the car. ‘ It was not immediately clear why the officer had fired the shot.Mamonyane said she was not aware that an officer had come forward.She vowed they would leave no stone unturned to establish who was responsible for the shooting. She said an armourer would work with the SAPS to establish which firearm was used to fire the shot.Mamonyane said all the officers who were at the roadblock would be questioned.The woman and her fiancé were returning from an outing on Sunday afternoon when they claim that JMPD officers shot at their vehicle, injuring the woman.The woman, who was identified only as Derby, might not be able to walk or work again.The couple have opened a case of attempted murder at Midrand police station and are planning to sue the department.The bullet, which entered the car through its boot, shattered the woman’s spine after it hit her in the back It ricocheted in the car and is now lodged in her head.Mrs Derby’s ordeal began when the couple’s car was pulled over at a roadblock by metro police officers on Alexandra Road in Midrand.The officers were apparently looking for drunk drivers.According to Derby’s fiancé – who has asked to be identified only as Bruce – an officer told him to go forward and then reverse. The officer then told him to go.“I took off. As I was turning to the corner, I heard a gunshot. There were about five or six gunshots. I didn’t think they were firing shots at us because I had complied with everything they had asked me to do.“I didn’t realise it had hit my fiancé. When I got to my house I saw a lump on her face and there was blood coming out of her mouth,” he said.Bruce phoned for an ambulance before rushing her to the Carstenhof Clinic where she was stabilised. She was transferred to Tembisa Hospital, where the white woman was unable to pay the R40, 000 deposit required for private healthcare.On Monday Bruce opened a case of attempted murder against the metro police. The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/woman-paralysed-after-roadblock-shooting-1.1043274
The woman, who had been travelling with her fiancé in the car, was shot at a roadblock and possibly left permanently paralysed, believes the metro police were responsible for the attack.The source phoned a friend of the couple who were shot at to inform him that after the metro cops who had manned the roadblock were summoned to the office on Wednesday, one officer admitted he fired a shot.
On Wednesday afternoon, metro police Inspector Edna Mamonyane confirmed that the JMPD had held a roadblock in Midrand on Sunday at about 7pm. Earlier in the day, she had denied this, saying the attackers may have been ‘bogus police officers’.
The officer who fired at the couple said he had not reported the matter because he thought ‘ he had missed the car. ‘ It was not immediately clear why the officer had fired the shot.Mamonyane said she was not aware that an officer had come forward.She vowed they would leave no stone unturned to establish who was responsible for the shooting. She said an armourer would work with the SAPS to establish which firearm was used to fire the shot.Mamonyane said all the officers who were at the roadblock would be questioned.The woman and her fiancé were returning from an outing on Sunday afternoon when they claim that JMPD officers shot at their vehicle, injuring the woman.The woman, who was identified only as Derby, might not be able to walk or work again.The couple have opened a case of attempted murder at Midrand police station and are planning to sue the department.The bullet, which entered the car through its boot, shattered the woman’s spine after it hit her in the back It ricocheted in the car and is now lodged in her head.Mrs Derby’s ordeal began when the couple’s car was pulled over at a roadblock by metro police officers on Alexandra Road in Midrand.The officers were apparently looking for drunk drivers.According to Derby’s fiancé – who has asked to be identified only as Bruce – an officer told him to go forward and then reverse. The officer then told him to go.“I took off. As I was turning to the corner, I heard a gunshot. There were about five or six gunshots. I didn’t think they were firing shots at us because I had complied with everything they had asked me to do.“I didn’t realise it had hit my fiancé. When I got to my house I saw a lump on her face and there was blood coming out of her mouth,” he said.Bruce phoned for an ambulance before rushing her to the Carstenhof Clinic where she was stabilised. She was transferred to Tembisa Hospital, where the white woman was unable to pay the R40, 000 deposit required for private healthcare.On Monday Bruce opened a case of attempted murder against the metro police. The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/woman-paralysed-after-roadblock-shooting-1.1043274
