Johannesburg - Police had tried to protect Daveyton taxi driver Mido Macia from harm, the Benoni Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.
Warrant Officer Meshack Malele said officers outside the moving police van lifted Macia's legs off the ground to prevent him being injured as he was tied to the back of the van.
“The policemen held his legs so that he couldn't get injured. General had kicked the door of the... van open, his legs were protruding,” said Malele.
General was Macia's nickname.
Malele said Macia had not been properly handcuffed, so one of the loose cuffs got hooked to the door, leaving him hanging out of the van.
The van driver had driven off as community members had started attacking officers and throwing stones at them before they could secure Macia in the van.
Malele said he was also injured in the incident.
Malele and eight other officers implicated in Macia's death are re-applying for bail after their legal representatives told the court they had new evidence which could see the court overturn its earlier decision to deny them bail.
Macia was filmed being tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton on February 26.
Police confronted him because his taxi was apparently blocking traffic.
A scuffle ensued and he was taken to the local police station, where he was found dead in the holding cells several hours later.
Malele said he did not believe the State had a strong case against the officers.
State attorney December Mthimunye questioned what new evidence Malele and the other accused had for the court.
An agitated Malele said: “Am I here to testify, or ask for bail?”
He was reprimanded by the court.
Sapa