Johannesburg - The four police officers accused of the murder of a suspected criminal in Krugersdorp received overwhelming support when they made their second court appearance on Tuesday.
Hundreds of people came to the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court to show their solidarity with the officers who were arrested for killing Khulekani Mpanza.
Apart from members of the public, off-duty police officers and representatives from the police unions also came to support their colleagues.
All wore T-shirts with the slogan “police killers must fall”. Constables Titus Mabela and Jason Segole as well as Sergeant Puleng Sebetwa appeared for their bail hearing on Tuesday.
The fourth officer, Constable Dipuo Chipu, who was released on bail R5 000 after she was charged for a lesser offence of defeating the ends of justice last week, did not appear in court on Tuesday. Mabela, Segole and Sebetwa have been charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice.
On Tuesday, the courtroom was packed and the angry crowd clashed with members of the media.
The members of the public accused them of being liars.
“You must get this story right, you need to tell the full truth, not lies,” shouted one man.
As the scene became chaotic, a journalist from The Star was elbowed in the chest by a bystander.
“We are here because it should be criminals being charged, not the men who are protecting us”, said a woman who identified herself only as Thandi.
The State did not oppose bail.
As magistrate Keith Page reserved judgment, a collective outcry was heard from the gallery.
The defence argued that the accused are in mental distress and couldn’t wait that long.
@lanc_02
The Star
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