Johannesburg - Mido Macia was crying in a pool of blood, bleeding from his head, and had been stripped of his trousers before he died in police cells.
This is according to an affidavit by the investigating officer from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate as summarised by senior prosecutor December Mthimunye in Benoni Magistrate’s Court today.
Mthimunye, on behalf of the State, opposed bail for the nine officers accused of dragging Macia behind a police van and killing him. They indicated last Friday that they would plead not guilty.
Macia was found dead in the cells of the Daveyton police station on February 26, allegedly as a result of police brutality.
Most of the accused sat in the dock with their heads bowed. Many of them tried to cover their faces as they entered the courtroom.
Magistrate Sam Makamu ordered last week that the media could only record video footage or take photographs before and after court was in session.
Mthimunye argued that the State had a “watertight” case, and that two different post-mortem results had shown that Macia had sustained severe injuries.
“There was no organ that was (not) injured,” said Mthimunye.
“We have got affidavits that say he was crying and bleeding and had an open head wound.”
He said Macia was also not wearing trousers when he was put into the police cells.
“He was lying in a pool of blood and bleeding,” said Mthimunye.
According to the prosecutor, Macia suffered three lacerations on the back of the head, abrasions on his face as well as bruising over his body, including the lower part of his left lung and his genitals.
The conclusion of both post-mortems, said Mthimunye, was that Macia died of hypoxia or oxygen deprivation.
The State argued that the accused should not receive bail due to the level of violence allegedly used to cause Macia’s death.
Mthimunye said the accused would also have the ability to interfere with witnesses.
The bail application continues.
The Star