MOTHUTLUNG FAMILIES WATCH KILLER COP ’ CRY
THE families of victims of alleged police shooting watched emotionless as the man accused of killing their loved ones wept in court yesterday.
Pretoria ’ s North Gauteng High Court had to adjourn for five minutes yesterday to allow a sobbing Warrant Officer Hyde Mophosho to compose himself.
This happened as he was about to tell the court of his encounter with the people who lay on the ground bleeding after being shot on the morning of January 13 last year during a protest over water in Mothutlung.
Michael Tshele, Osia Rahube and Maboifane Seemela died as a result of the shooting while others suffered serious injuries.
In the middle of the twohour examination by his lawyer Advocate Andre Gerber, Mophosho suddenly cowered into his chair after Gerber asked him what he saw after the police halted firing.
Mophosho immediately sunk his head into his hands and sobbed with tears running down his face.
Judge Letty MolopaSethosa adjourned the proceedings for Mophosho to compose himself.
While other people left the courtroom, about 10 family members of the deceased remained and watched Mophosho as he carried on crying and drinking water. Other family members whis- pered among themselves unmoved. Their reaction was contrary to the action they took when Itumeleng Thejane, one of the injured protesters, wept uncontrollably in the witness stand a few weeks ago.
At that time the bereaved jumped from their chairs to console and offer him water.
Speaking after proceedings, Shadrack Mahlangu, who was involved in the protest, said Mophosho ’ s reaction could have been triggered by him realising the trouble he was in.
Mophosho took the stand for the first time yesterday since his trial began early last month. He is facing three counts of murder and three of attempted murder for the deaths of three protesters.
Mophosho is also charged with using unauthorised ammunition and for illegally pointing a firearm.
The state alleged that he used the outlawed SSG ammunition which contains pellets. Mophosho has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Earlier yesterday, the expelled Mophosho blasted testimonies of his former colleagues and declared that his commander never inspected their weapons as was policy.
He also disputed his ex-colleagues ’ testimony that there was no spare ammunition in the Nyala that the police officers used the night before the fatal shooting.
Mophosho said they kept a box of extra ammunition in the Nyala at the request of their bosses.
Five of the eight police officers had previously told the court their shotguns and rubber bullets were thoroughly inspected by Lieutenant Kenneth Mashiane before handing them over to make sure there were no foreign or unwanted bullets left inside their shotguns.
Mophosho said he borrowed his colleagues ’ shotgun to fire rubber bullets when the protesters were out of control and pelted them with rocks.
“I started loading the shotgun while pointing it towards the crowd to avoid being hit by a stone. While shooting and loading I heard a loud bang. I got scared and stopped shooting to inspect my firearm. Others continued to shoot. There [were] only rubber bullets in [the] gun and belt. Some people ran away and I saw others lying on the ground bleeding,” he said.