28 Mar 2012 | Olebogeng Molatlhwa
A JOHANNESBURG policeman has been arrested and charged with murder after fatally shooting a bystander during a routine police check.
TRAGIC EVENT: A man was shot dead by a policeman in Cleveland while on his way to catch a train home from work. Photo: Busisiwe Mbatha
WITNESS SAYS DIFFERENT: Officer's gun went off - Then shot him twice more
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Tshisikhawe Ndou confirmed the incident, saying that the deceased was shot dead when the policeman's R5 rifle "went off".
The victim - believed to be a company driver - died a few 100 metres from his place of work in Cleveland, east of the city centre.
"A police constable was arrested at about 4pm after an unknown person was fatally shot when his rifle went off near a train station in Cleveland," Ndou said.
"It is alleged that the police constable and his crew were busy searching three suspected vehicles next to Cleveland train station.
"The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) was summoned to the scene and a case of murder was opened. The circumstances around the incident will be investigated and the docket has been handed over to the ICD for further investigation."
He said the suspect would appear in court "soon".
When Sowetan arrived minutes after the deceased's body was taken away by police, a small crowd that had gathered gave a vastly different account of events.
One man - who asked to remain anonymous - said the officer was searching some men who lay on the floor when suddenly his gun went off and shot the victim.
The witness claimed that the policeman then pumped two more bullets into the wounded victim.
"He saw that the man was down but continued to shoot him twice," the witness said.
He said the officer's colleagues picked up the spent cartridges and whisked the shooter away.
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