Police brutality video biased lawyer
LAWYERS defending three policemen implicated in the execution-style murder – captured by CCTV cameras of a robbery suspect – will challenge the authenticity of the footage.
During the bail application defence advocate Thando Mankge said the state ’ s case was weak because it was based solely on the video footage.
The video shows police chasing a gun-wielding Khulekani Mpanza down a road in Krugersdorp. The police shoot him to the ground, corner him and then fatally shoot him at close range.
Police officers Constables Titus Mabela, Jason Segole and Sergeant Puleng Sebetwa appeared at Krugersdorp Magistrate ’ s Court yesterday for their bail application. Magistrate Keith Paige postponed the matter to Friday for a decision.
The trio is facing a murder charge and another for defeating the ends of justice. The fourth officer, Constable Dipuo Chipu, who was charged for defeating the ends of justice, was granted bail last week.
Yesterday Paige adjourned the court for an hour because he wanted to view the video in his chambers before he could make a decision for bail.
Mankge accused the investigating officer, Mantsha Raphesu, of submitting only a subjective portion of the video that shows Mpanza being killed but not the part when he shoots at the police.
“It would be unfortunate not to release the applicants based on the video you have seen which does not depict all the events that took place minutes before the deceased was killed,” Mankge told Paige.
State prosecutor Sheron Masedi said they had five witnesses.
She said the officers have been served with a notice to suspend them.