By Graeme Hosken
Crime Reporter
The battle for justice for a Pretoria woman allegedly raped by a Rustenburg policeman hit another hurdle yesterday when a State prosecutor apparently refused to place the matter on the court roll.
The case has been mired in controversy with first police, and now the justice system, being accused of dragging their feet in the saga.
Four policemen, three of whom apparently sat in an office and ignored the woman's screams for help when she was allegedly raped in the bathroom of the Rustenburg police station, have repeatedly refused to attend an identity parade.
'It is simply one disaster after another in this never-ending circus'
Continues Below ↓
This week's refusal saw the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) turning to the courts yesterday to obtain an order to compel the suspects to stand in a line-up.
The latest drama took place at the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court yesterday when the State prosecutor apparently refused to place the matter on the court roll.
The refusal came shortly after court security staff and police searched the court building for nearly 30 minutes for a Pretoria News team which had earlier taken photographs of the suspects being delivered to the courthouse with escorts from the police and the ICD.
The suspects are believed to have tried repeatedly to delay their arrival at court yesterday by making various demands, which are believed to have included a demand for a new legal representation.
ICD spokesman Moses Dlamini said that what had happened at court was shocking.
"We have never come across this kind of obstruction before in any of our investigations."
Dlamini said that when the prosecutor refused to place the matter on the roll, their office contacted the North West Director of Public Prosecutions to demand answers.
"We have been assured and are hoping against hope that the four suspects, who are still in custody, will in fact appear in the identity parade today.
Continues...
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
