Pair acquitted of cop’s murder

TEARS flowed outside the Western Cape High court yesterday as emotional relatives and colleagues of murdered Kraaifontein police officer Rozelle Witbooi expressed disappointment at the acquittal of two men charged in connection with the killing. “I’m unhappy because at the end of the day she’s gone, she’s not coming back, so how can they say there’s no one that took her from us,” said Melissa Dixon-Witbooi, the deceased police officer’s life partner. Acting Judge Sakkie Maartens found there wasn’t enough evidence for a murder conviction against Mbongiseni Sithelo and Sicelo Kwayimani. “A conviction of murder cannot stand and particular facts in this case do not lead to a conviction of culpable homicide,” the judge said. Sithelo was, however, convicted of the attempted murder of Witbooi, while Kwayimani was acquitted on the same charge. – ANA