Slain state witness shot in head, groin

Bullets were removed from the head and groin of a slain state witness to a gang shooting, a crime scene investigator told the Port Elizabeth High Court on Tuesday.

Warrant Officer Sherwin Walsh was testifying in the case against disgraced police officer Walter Francis, who allegedly played a role in the murder of witness Alex Nico Ferreira.

Walsh said both bullets were removed from the body of Ferreira, 27, during a forensic postmortem held two days after the alleged hit, which took place on February 21 2017.

According to the indictment, Ferreira was shot dead after he was lured from his home to Bantam Crescent, Bethelsdorp, by Luke du Plessis.

Francis, 33, had allegedly driven Wayne Wabanie, 25, and Shamiel Gallant, 20, in his own car to Bantam Crescent, where Ferreira was shot and killed.

Ferreira was a witness in a gang shooting that took place in October 2014.

Francis was sentenced to six years in prison in October after being convicted on a charge of culpable homicide for his role in the 2014 shooting and murder of alleged gangster Denton Rademeyer, 23.

Ferreira had witnessed Rademeyer’s murder.

Francis was stationed at the Humewood police station at the time of Rademeyer’s murder and his police-issued firearm was used in the shooting of Rademeyer.

All three have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition in relation to Ferreira’s murder.

On Tuesday, Walsh testified that he had done a primary residue check on Du Plessis on the day of the murder and no residue was found.

“I was instructed to perform the test [by Constable Alexander Pio] for elimination purposes,” Walsh said.

Wabanie was arrested on the same day of the murder of Ferreira, while Gallant and Francis were arrested on November 30 2014.

The case continues.