Warning shots as police tried to arrest accused

SEVERAL warning shots were fired when Prieska police tried to arrest a man after he was accused of raping a 10-year-old girl.

Shaun “Dakka” Rooi now faces three counts of rape, two counts of housebreaking, assault and obstructing a police officer in performing his duties.

The incidents occurred in Plakkerskamp in 2017. The charge of obstruction relates to an incident where Rooi allegedly tried to stab a police officer when he tried to arrest him.

Constable Winston Titus yesterday told the Northern Cape High Court that Rooi turned violent when one of the officers tried to arrest him.

Complaint

“We received a complaint on November 19, 2017 about the rape of a little girl. We went to the house, with the child and her mother, where the alleged incident took place. We, however, did not find the accused at the house and it was locked.

“We received another complaint regarding an unrelated matter which we then attended to. We left the complainant at the police station with the officer who handles rape cases. We also got the help of Sergeant Saaiman to assist in identifying the accused.

“We went back to the house and found the father of the accused. The father said the accused had the keys to the house and that he did not know where he was. We received a call that the accused was in O-block.

“We found him and Sergeant Saaiman told the accused that he needed the keys to his house. The accused asked us what we wanted to do with the keys.

“He then took out the keys, which were attached to an okapi knife, and started playing with the knife. He refused to hand over the keys and started walking in the direction of his house.”

According to Titus, Saaiman again asked him for the keys and grabbed him. The accused pulled away and told Saaiman that he would stab him.

“Rooi went through a gate and closed it. He then tried to stab Saaiman after he (Saaiman) attempted to open the gate.”

Titus said Rooi again tried to stab the officer when he went through the gate. “The accused walked away from the gate and Saaiman entered the yard. The accused turned around and again attempted to stab Saaiman. The knife was open and he lifted it.

“Saaiman warned the accused that he would shoot him if he stabbed him. The accused again lifted his arm and Saaiman fired a warning shot. The accused failed to react and Saaiman fired another shot. The accused then ran off.”

Titus testified that they managed to arrest Rooi the next day.

Rooi’s attorney, Tau Mogwera, argued that the officers arrested his client while the investigation was incomplete and that he had retaliated after being falsely accused.

The trial continues.