Police reservist, brother on murder charge
A POLICE reservist and his brother appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of murder after a Westcliff father was beaten and shot outside his home.
Jonathan Eddie Pather, 39, who was unemployed, sustained a gun shot wound to the chest.
He was taken to Life Chatsmed Garden Hospital where he died two days later.
The accused, a 52 year-old police reservist and his 45-yearold sibling, were granted bail of R1 500 each.
A relative of Pather’s, who declined to be named, said the deceased had managed to tell two of his brothers what had happened before he died.
“Jonathan and his wife, Shamone, were having problems and the police reservist knew about it.”
On the day of the incident (June 25), the reservist, said the relative, and his brother had allegedly went to Pather’s home.
When Pather saw them, he contacted his brothers and told them to go to his house before going outside to meet the men.
“An argument began and Jonathan told them to stop interfering in his marriage. The men had become angry and (the police reservist) started assaulting him on the head with a stick. (His brother) then pulled out his gun and shot Jonathan in the chest before running away.”
The relative said moments after the brothers fled, Pather’s siblings had arrived.
“Jonathan was in a stable condition and told them what had happened. They rushed him to Chatsmed hospital.”
He said Pather’s condition worsened and he was placed on a ventilator.
“We sat by his bedside praying for him to recover but the wound was too severe and he died (last) Tuesday.”
Pather’s brothers opened a case of murder at Chatsworth Police Station the following day. The suspects were subsequently arrested.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said a case of murder was being investigated.