Court finds Krugersdorp cop guilty of
murdering suspected robber
2016-12-14
20:11
Mpho Raborife, News24
Johannesburg - Constable Titus Mabela, one of three police
officers accused of shooting dead a suspect in cold blood in Krugersdorp last
year, has been found guilty of murder, the National Prosecuting Authority said
on Wednesday.
His co-accused, Sergeant Puleng Sebetwa, was found guilty of
common assault and Constable Jason Segole was acquitted on all charges,
spokesperson Phindi Louw told News24.
The three officers had been facing charges of murder and defeating
the ends of justice after they were caught on camera killing suspected robber
Khulekani Mpanza.
The officers were arrested after CCTV video footage emerged
showing the police officers chasing a gun-wielding Mpanza down the streets of
Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg.
Mpanza was first seen firing shots at the police as he ran down
the street, damaging one of their vehicles.
One of the officers is seen firing a first shot which resulted in
Mpanza falling to the ground and dropping his weapon.
The footage then shows another officer kicking Mpanza, while
another officer fires a second shot.
Mabela's defence made an application for leave to appeal the
court's decision and asked that their client be sent for psychiatric
observation.
Their application was granted and the matter was postponed to
February 6 for Mabela to be referred to a mental institution for observation,
Louw said.
