A Constantia man has been charged with murder after he allegedly shot and killed a police officer who responded to a burglary at his home.
Sean Meuwese has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Constable Pheelo Lucas Masiu and to a charge of pointing a firearm at another police officer at the scene.
On August 29, 2009, the officers responded to a break-in at Meuwese’s Van Brede Street home after his friend called the police on his request.
Meuwese heard a noise and went to check upstairs, armed with his licensed firearm. A scuffle between him and the intruder took place. Soon afterwards, the police arrived and headed upstairs.
A shot went off, killing Masiu. Three more shots went off, hitting Meuwese. The intruder got away.
The State charged Meuwese with Masiu’s murder, but it will be Meuwese’s defence that the intruder fired the fatal shot during the scuffle.
He was arrested on October 22, 2009. But charges were provisionally withdrawn against him because he was in hospital fighting for his life.
Meuwese has since recovered, but scars on his neck bear testament to the incident.
He did not offer an explanation when he pleaded not guilty on April 11.
During his court appearance last week, his lawyer, William Booth, said he had received photographs of the scene taken by a police photographer.
“I have them now and some of the other documentation, but not all. I am told it will be supplied to us,” he said.
Booth also asked that a bail condition stating that Meuwese remain under house arrest be lifted.
Meuwese was permitted to leave his house only after contacting the investigating officer.
After an adjournment, the State established that the bail condition never existed.
Magistrate Gavin du Plessis later made an order that Meuwese was not confined to his address.
Meuwese, who is out on bail of R5 000, is due back in court on August 28. - Cape Argus