Cape Town - The head of the detective unit at the Klapmuts police station has testified against his former colleague and murder accused Luvuyo Ndevu.
Ndevu and four others are standing trial for the alleged murder of police officer Steven Britz who was gunned down while manning the Klapmuts police charge office in April last year.
The accused, Luvuyo, Ndevu, Anele Pantsi, Khayelethu Waka, Mlinde Mbaliso and Buhkhaki Phukwana allegedly stormed the police station near Stellenbosch on the night of April 16, 2014 and opened fire, killing Britz before fleeing with several firearms. The 44-year-old married father of two died alone in a pool of his own blood.
Earlier on Monday, Warrant Officer Theodore Carossini took the stand and told the court that he had been Ndevu's boss at the time of the attack. Just a month before the murder, Carossini had suspended Ndevu and started disciplinary proceedings against him. He testified that on March 3, 2014 he had served disciplinary papers on Ndevu as “he had a history of not coming to work.
”The constable had been booked off sick from December 2013 until February 13, 2014. But, on Monday March 3, he failed to arrive at work again, and Carossini told the court he was instructed to serve disciplinary papers on him.
Carossini said he was unable to find his former colleague at his home address, but found him at the tavern across the road where “he smelt like alcohol”.
Defence lawyer Bruce Morrison asked him if the two had had a good relationship during the four years the constable had worked at the Klapmuts police station. Carossini said they had. During cross examination, Carossini was also asked if he knew Ndevu had a problem with his eyesight, but Carossini said he did not.
He also testified that on January 31 last year, he had looked for Ndevu to check up on his police firearm, and had found him in a tavern. He said Ndevu was often absent, and never had a legitimate reason for not coming to work. Morrison told the court that it was his instruction that Ndevu had to get treatment for his eyes and that was why he had not turned up for work that day. He asked Carossini if he had noticed that Ndevu's eyes were bloodshot on March 3, to which Carossini said he had not.
Carossini told the court his priority had been to serve the papers charging Ndevu with absence without leave. He said Ndevu refused to sign them, gave them back and instructed Carossini to “throw them in the dustbin.”
The trial continues on Tuesday.
ANA