National
Confession links man to N3 cop killing─── 05:22 Thu, 28 May 2015
Johannesburg - One of the men allegedly involved in a shoot-out which left two police officers dead and one injured in March, has been linked to the crime through his co-accused's confession, the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court heard during a bail hearing on Wednesday.
During cross-examination, the investigating officer Constable Mulaudzi told the court that Vika Nzama was linked to the shooting through the confession of his co-accused, Nhlanhleni Nzama as well as a cellphone belonging to one of their accomplices, who was shot and wounded at the scene and later died.
It was not immediately clear whether the two were related.
The men applying for bail. Their co-accused Sandile Nyathikazi is out on bail of R10 000.
"He was arrested via the tracing of a cellphone and a confession by accused number three," Mulaudzi told the court.
Both Nzamas and Nyathikazi face several charges, including two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
The group was allegedly part of a four-man gang who opened fire on three police officers patrolling the N3 highway in March.
The officers had stopped their vehicle close to the Modderfontein off-ramp.
Two of the officers, Constable Mthokoziseni Myeza and Maisha Mafokoane, were killed in the incident. A third officer, Steven Mafanelo, was injured.
Mafanelo was alleged to have shot and killed one of the gang members. The man, a Zimbabwean national, died after several days in hospital.
On Wednesday, Mulaudzi told the court that the cellphone was found on the man, known as Justice.
"That cell was sent for investigation to trace the outstanding suspects. The cellphone number of [Vika] was identified on [it]. That is when he was traced and arrested using a cellphone tracker," he said.
The court also heard that upon Vika's arrest, police discovered he had two other cases against him in Alexandra and Hillbrow, dating from 2010.
According to Mulaudzi, Vika was wanted in Alexandra for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
"The docket says the accused absconded and was classified as wanted. On that matter the accused was using different names, so if it wasn't for the fingerprints [taken after his arrest] we wouldn't have linked him, except for his date of birth which was the same," he said.
On the second matter, the court heard Vika's fingerprints had linked him to a robbery in Hillbrow. Another man was arrested for the crime, but the matter was eventually withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
Advocate Nomvela, for Vika, told Mulaudzi that both matters he had been withdrawn by the police. Mulaudzi disputed Nomvela's claims.
When court adjourned a large group of men, who had filled most of the public gallery along with Nyathikazi's family, got up and left, leaving the court room almost empty.
The matter was postponed to June 4 for a decision on the bail application.
- News24.com
It was not immediately clear whether the two were related.
The men applying for bail. Their co-accused Sandile Nyathikazi is out on bail of R10 000.
"He was arrested via the tracing of a cellphone and a confession by accused number three," Mulaudzi told the court.
Both Nzamas and Nyathikazi face several charges, including two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
The group was allegedly part of a four-man gang who opened fire on three police officers patrolling the N3 highway in March.
The officers had stopped their vehicle close to the Modderfontein off-ramp.
Two of the officers, Constable Mthokoziseni Myeza and Maisha Mafokoane, were killed in the incident. A third officer, Steven Mafanelo, was injured.
Mafanelo was alleged to have shot and killed one of the gang members. The man, a Zimbabwean national, died after several days in hospital.
On Wednesday, Mulaudzi told the court that the cellphone was found on the man, known as Justice.
"That cell was sent for investigation to trace the outstanding suspects. The cellphone number of [Vika] was identified on [it]. That is when he was traced and arrested using a cellphone tracker," he said.
The court also heard that upon Vika's arrest, police discovered he had two other cases against him in Alexandra and Hillbrow, dating from 2010.
According to Mulaudzi, Vika was wanted in Alexandra for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
"The docket says the accused absconded and was classified as wanted. On that matter the accused was using different names, so if it wasn't for the fingerprints [taken after his arrest] we wouldn't have linked him, except for his date of birth which was the same," he said.
On the second matter, the court heard Vika's fingerprints had linked him to a robbery in Hillbrow. Another man was arrested for the crime, but the matter was eventually withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
Advocate Nomvela, for Vika, told Mulaudzi that both matters he had been withdrawn by the police. Mulaudzi disputed Nomvela's claims.
When court adjourned a large group of men, who had filled most of the public gallery along with Nyathikazi's family, got up and left, leaving the court room almost empty.
The matter was postponed to June 4 for a decision on the bail application.
- News24.com
