Pretoria - The high court in Pretoria will over the next few weeks hear evidence of how Mozambican national Mido Macia was dragged behind a police van in February 2013.
The nine former police officers accused of being responsible for knocking him to the ground and tying him to a police van, are expected to plead on Tuesday to a charge of murder.
Macia was dragged behind the van for about 400m. He was later found dead in the Ekurhuleni police station’s holding cells.
The accused briefly appeared in court on Monday, but their case stood down to Tuesday, when their trial is expected to start.
The trial is expected to last for at least three weeks.
The State and the defence on Monday got together to view the footage of the incident, which was at the time captured on a cellphone. Judge Bert Bam was told that the parties are trying to find common ground as to curtail the proceedings.
According to the indictment Macia was on February 26, 2013, confronted by accused Meshack Malele and Thamsanqa Ngema, as he apparently parked his taxi in a way which obstructed other vehicles.
An argument ensued and the accused phoned for backup. Macia was cuffed and tied to the back of the police vehicle, which drove off, dragging him behind.
He died sometime later of extensive soft tissue injuries.
The State is expected to call 32 witness.
None of Macia’s family members were in court on Monday and a friend said old wounds are opened every time they attend court.
Malele, Ngema, Percy Mnisi, Bongamusa Mdluli, Sipho Ngobeni, Lungisa Gwababa, Bongani Kolisi, Linda Sololo and Matome Ramatlou are all out on bail.
Pretoria News