Family of slain deputy sheriff taunted in court
MBOMBELA - The family of slain Nelspruit deputy sheriff, Michelle Jones (31), have expressed outrage and disgust after coming face to face with her alleged killer in a Nelspruit Magistrate’s Courtroom on Tuesday morning.
Close friends and family of
Jones filled the court yesterday to watch the outcome of the bail application of the man accused of shooting and killing her, Hendry Dlamini (32).
Equipped with large posters demanding that Dlamini does not get bail, the grieving Jones family said they were shocked and disgusted when he entered the courtroom not handcuffed, and then smiled and pulled faces at them.
Dlamini is alleged to have shot shot Michelle and her partner, Julio Baumgat, in Nelsville on the night of October 20.
Baumgat sustained six gunshot wounds to his right arm and was critically injured. Soon after the incident, the police arrested a 35-yearold man believed to be in Dlamini’s company during the shooting, while Dlamini handed himself over at the Nelspruit Police Station on October 25.
He appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court the next day, when Michelle was laid to rest by her family.
“We are very disappointed and feel the way he acted in court was absolutely shameful,” said Michelle’s two sisters, Marlene Jones and Melissa Mnyandu.
“The alleged killer came up to the dock from the holding cells with armed police, but he wasn't even in handcuffs,” said Marlene. “He is in court on a murder charge and not in handcuffs. We feel that this was not right. We saw absolutely no remorse.
“He was smiling at the family when he came up and he pulled faces at us as well. It was very hard for all of us who loved Michelle to see this.”
Marlene and Melissa also stated they had little faith in the court system, but hoped that due process would be followed and justice would ultimately be served for Michelle.
Meanwhile, Michelle’s father, Lawrence, said he was still dealing with the emotions of the murder of his firstborn child, and found Dlamini’s alleged arrogance in court to be difficult to bear.
“I am hurt. I am devastated. I cannot believe this is not a dream,” he said.
“I was not in the courtroom when Dlamini first entered, but he looked very confident while sitting in that dock, and it makes me worry for the safety of Michelle’s sisters.”
Dlamini’s bail application was postponed to November 8. However, an application put forward by his attorney for the presiding magistrate to recuse himself from the case, was granted.
Presiding Magistrate Eddie
Hall said while there were no legal grounds as to why he should recuse, he thought it best to remain cautious and, in the interest of justice, to withdraw from presiding over the bail application.
Dlamini’s attorney had raised concerns that because Hall had been the magistrate at the Nelspruit Civil Court, he might have had dealings with the sheriff’s office and the deceased personally, and therefore the accused may perceive that Hall will show bias in his proceedings.
Hall said that he had not known Michelle personally, and although he might have had a few interactions with the deputy sheriff for work purposes, he could not remember them offhand.
Hall said he had decided to recuse himself as the accused’s perception may be that because the court and the sheriff’s office deal with each other often, there might be bias.