Johannesburg - The driver of a BMW that crashed into the back of a police vehicle, killing two officers and injuring another, has been released on R5 000 bail.
State prosecutor Leonard Dakile had compared Henry Prinsloo’s case to that of hip hop artist Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye and his co-accused Themba Tshabalala, who were found guilty on four counts of murder after ploughing into a group of schoolchildren four years ago, killing four and seriously injuring two.
In Prinsloo’s case, two officers were burnt to death when their vehicle caught fire on impact, while their colleague was admitted to hospital. The accident occurred on Ontdekkers Road in Horison, Roodepoort, at about 1am.
On Wednesday, the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court heard that Prinsloo, 34, from Silverfields in Krugersdorp, had an outstanding conviction of possession of drugs, which had been struck off the court roll because the State was awaiting laboratory results on the drugs.
Prinsloo faces two counts of culpable homicide, defeating the ends of justice and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Maarohanye and Tshabalala’s verdicts were overturned to culpable homicide after the Protea Magistrate’s Court found they had been high on drugs and under the influence.
“In a case of culpable homicide involving Jub Jub, where the accused drove under the influence of alcohol or drugs and killed people, the bail was hefty,” said Dakile.
Prinsloo was driving his BMW at high speed while allegedly under the influence when he crashed into the back of the police vehicle.
Constables Elias Thabo Dibete, 34, and Constable Thulasizwe Skhahla, 38, from Roodepoort police station, were killed when their vehicle caught fire. Constable Lesiba Chris Thubakgale, 34, was seriously injured when he was thrown out of the car on impact.
Dakile did not oppose bail, but said it should be fixed at R20 000. Prinsloo’s lawyer, Calvin Richards, said his client could not pay such a hefty amount because he was a student and unemployed, and his mother was a single parent and a pensioner. “Where would the family get R20 000 for bail?”
Magistrate Andrea Davies agreed with Richards and fixed bail at R5 000.