KILLER COP BREAKS DOWN IN COURT

THE police officer who killed three people during a water protest in Mothutlung, North West, two years ago was reduced to an emotional wreck who sought psychiatric intervention after the incident.

Warrant Officer Hyde Mophosho, 48, was in January convicted for the triple murder of Michael Tshele, Osia Rahube and Maboifane Seemela. He was also found guilty on two attempted murder charges and one of possession of illegal ammunition.

Mophosho claimed to have unknowingly fired banned ammunition (SSG) into a crowd of protesters on January 13 2014.

Mophosho, who has since been fired from his job, underwent psychiatric treatment a few days after mowing down the protesters, revealed a psychiatric report by Dr Lerato Dikobe.

Defence advocate Piet Pistorius delivered the report in parts during sentencing arguments in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria this week. Police pastoral services had referred Mophosho to Dikobe’s practice at Netcare Akasia Hospital, where he was admitted.

Dikobe found that the Soshanguve officer was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He showed symptoms of irritability, flashbacks, depression, poor quality of sleep, poor appetite, loss of interest and high free-floating anxiety.

Dikobe is a clinical psychologist and an occupational therapist. Mophosho was put on anti-depressants and other medication while attending daily individual cognitive therapy and group session.

Judge Letty MolopaSethosa questioned the timing of the availability of the report since it was never used as evidence during trial. Pistorius said it was only e-mailed to his office last Friday and he only read it on Tuesday.

Mophosho caused a scene when he started sobbing uncontrollably as Pistorius told the court about the interviews he had with some of his client’s former colleagues and the medals he had gotten during his 25year career as a policeman.

“They knew him as a very friendly colleague ... the event [of the shooting] is totally out of his character,” Pistorius said.

Mophosho will be sentenced next week.