Rustenbiurg – A police issued firearm was found in the possession of Nicholas Molefe Ntsimane when he was arrested, the North West High Court heard on Wednesday.
Warrant Officer John Molate told the court that firearm was wrapped in a black balaclava and put inside a bag.
“We arrested the accused at the correctional service parole office in Rustenburg, we received information that he will be at that office. We went inside the office, identify ourselves and told the parole office the aim of our visit,” he said.
“We then arrest the accused and when we left the office, his younger brother was standing near the door. He had a bag and the accused requested that the bag belong to him and he wanted it. I took the bag from his younger brother as he was cuffed.”
He told the court when they arrive at the Tlhabane police station, he opened the bag and saw a firearm wrapped in a black balaclava. The firearm had an SAPS emblem and it serial number was filed off.
He then called Warrant Officer Abel Senokonyana from the local crime record (LCR) to collect the exhibits, the firearm, balaclava and a leather jacket that were inside the bag.
Molate was testifying in the trial of Nicholas Molefe Ntsimane, 38, facing 14 charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, culpable homicide, arson, armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunition.
The state alleges that he petrol bombed a house in Bester, Tlhabane on May 16, last year killing Kealeboga Segopa, 30, her daughter Kaboyaona, eight months-old and her mother Mmapula, 55. They died on arrival at a local hospital. The court heard that the cause of their deaths was smoke inhalation.
Ntsimane was a close relative to the family. He pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges against him.
The firearm found in his possession belonged to a police officer who was hijacked by Ntsimane in Tlhabane in December 2014.
Captain Jeremiah Motlhaki told the court, palm prints found on a hijacked Chevrolet Captiva matched that of Ntsimane.
The trial continues on Thursday.
African News Agency