Murder accused arrested four months after shooting
Four months after suspected gangster Remario de Lange allegedly shot dead a man and wounded a six-year-old girl in Helenvale, he was finally arrested while driving a stolen vehicle.
Testifying in the high court in Gqeberha yesterday, Warrant-Officer Rudy Arends said that on March 23 last year, he and his partner were patrolling in Kamesh, Uitenhage, when they noticed a dark green Mazda bakkie without number plates being driven in the area.
They followed the bakkie and pulled it over.
As it stopped, the driver, identified by Arends as De Lange, jumped out and fled.
Arends said he gave chase and was able to apprehend De Lange, 25, about 50m from where he had been pulled over.
It is alleged that De Lange shot Lorenzo Victor Nicholas, 27, on November 14, 2019, while he was walking in Kobus Street, Helenvale.
On Monday, De Lange pleaded not guilty to the murder of Nicholas, the attempted murder of the six-year-old girl, vehicle theft, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and two counts of contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act related to the aiding and abetting of criminal gang activities.
The state alleges that after shooting Nicholas, De Lange opened fire on a 29-year-old man who had witnessed the shooting.
A stray bullet struck the little girl who was standing nearby.
The witness escaped unharmed while the six-year-old was treated at Livingstone Hospital.
Nicholas died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, chest and abdomen.
Earlier this week, a witness told the court that he was a member of the Dondolos gang and knew De Lange as a member of the New Time Bozzas.
He said Nicholas had no gang affiliation.
Yesterday, forensic expert Warrant Officer Philip Bekker told the court that tests conducted at the scene of the shooting showed that the shooter had been standing about 50m from where the sixyearold was shot.
The Mazda De Lange was driving on the day of his arrest was reported stolen on March 16 in St Benedict Street, West End.
De Lange’s defence advocate, Louisa Roux, said De Lange was driving it because a friend had asked him to fetch some pork after hiring the vehicle.
The friend allegedly did not have a driver’s licence.
The trial continues.