They threatened my family, witness claims
“They made threatening hand gestures and said what I was doing would affect my family.”
Those were the words of a state witness – who is in witness protection – as he told the Port Elizabeth High Court that three people had tried on Wednesday to warn him against testifying in a case in which a policeman has been accused of playing a role in the murder of a young northern areas man.
On Thursday, the man said two women and a man had made the alleged threats while he was waiting with security officials outside the courtroom.
Prosecutor Velile Makasana said he had been approached by one of the witness’s protectors, who informed him of the incident, which he alleged took place inside the courtroom.
The witness, however, said the threat had been made outside. He was testifying in the murder trial of disgraced policeman Walter Francis, 33, Wayne Wabanie, 25, and Shamiel Gallant, 20, who are accused of gunning down state witness Alex Nico Ferreira, 27, on February 21 2017.
Ferreira was shot dead after being lured from his home to Bantam Crescent, Bethelsdorp.
It is alleged Francis drove Wabanie and Gallant to a church near to where the shooting took place.
On Thursday, Francis defence advocate Terry Price SC said: “I say he is not telling the truth.”
Makasana suggested to judge Elna Revelas that she make an order to clear the court to prevent further threats.
“It is best not to clear the court at this point,” Revelas said. “If anyone does make any more gestures bring it to my attention and that person or persons must leave immediately.”
The witness told Revelas that on Thursday the two women who made the threats were not present but he did identify a man in the public gallery who was allegedly with the women on Wednesday when the threats were made.
Revelas told the man that threats made outside of the courtroom must be taken up with police because of the seriousness of the allegations.
Earlier, Revelas ordered that all the accused must be present by 9.30am for the remainder of the case. This was after proceedings were halted while Francis was being transported from St Albans Prison.
Francis is serving a six-year sentence for culpable homicide for his role in the 2014 murder of Denton Rademeyer.
Francis’s service pistol was used in that crime.
Ferreira was a witness to the murder of Rademeyer.
Francis, Wabanie and Gallant have all pleaded not guilty to murder, conspiracy to commit murder and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On Thursday, the witness said when he gave police a statement on Ferreira’s murder told them he would be able to identify the men involved – including Francis.
Price put it to the witness that in his statement the only description he gave of Francis was that he was a “Cape coloured with a round face”.
The witness said: “I told [the police] I would recognise [Francis] if I saw him.”
In May 2017, the man identified Francis from photos and in September identified Gallant in the same way.