Family unhappy with the SAPS
MBOMBELA - Family and friends of both Michelle Jones and her partner, Julio Baumgat, have called on the police to apologise for releasing an allegedly false media statement regarding a recent shooting.
A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, had said in the press statement released to the media on Saturday afternoon that the suspected gunman was allegedly Jones's ex-boyfriend, and suggested the shooting might have been an act of jealousy.
According to family and friends of the couple, this statement was not only untrue, but also distressing to the family during an already incredibly difficult time.
Pamla Baumgat, Julio’s sister, said Jones and her brother had been together since they were in high school, and that the alleged shooter was not her exboyfriend.
Family and friends said the couple had recently purchased a house in the area, however, a local man, allegedly known and feared by many Nelsville residents, was disgruntled by the sale and had allegedly threatened their lives before the shooting.
Pamla said Jones had gone to the police the day before the shooting, on October 19, to report these threats, and that the police said she should take out a protection order against the man.
Lowvelder had sent Mohlala questions regarding the allegedly inaccurate statement, according to the couple’s family and friends.
Mohlala only responded with “He who alleges must prove otherwise”.
Pamla said she and members of Jones’ family had also reached out to Mohlala about the statement. “He said the same thing to us. He said, ‘He who alleges must prove otherwise’,” she said.
Jones, her partner and a friend had driven to a shop near a park in Nelsville at about 19:00 on October 20 when the shooting occurred.
Julio was struck in the arm six times by bullets, and Jones also suffered multiple bullet wounds. The pair was rushed to hospital, where Jones was declared dead.
Julio, while in a stable condition, was seriously injured. His journey to recovery is expected to be a lengthy one.