Shock over handling of failed hit case

DURBAN: 121115 Grant Jones leaves Durban Magistrate court soon after three man accused of attempting to killing were granted bail. PICTURE: GCINA NDWALANE

DURBAN: 121115 Grant Jones leaves Durban Magistrate court soon after three man accused of attempting to killing were granted bail. PICTURE: GCINA NDWALANE

Published Nov 17, 2015

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Durban - A Kloof businessman, who was left paralysed after an attempt on his life, has approached the director of public prosecutions to investigate how the case was handled.

Grant Jones and his family approached advocate Moipone Noko to raise their concerns related to the case.

Jones’s wife, Debbie, said the family were shocked and disappointed by what happened in court last Thursday, as they had believed that there was a strong case.

“We were shocked when we were told that some of the charges were going to be withdrawn and we want to know why. Our family has survived several attacks not just on my husband, but on my father too. We are living in fear.”

She said the family had been pleased with the work done by the Hawks investigating team, led by Warrant Officer Deena Govender, but felt they had been let down by the prosecution.

Noko confirmed, via National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson Kara, that she met Jones and his family after the court proceedings last Thursday.

Jones said the family had been left devastated after they had heard in court that prosecutors based at the Durban Magistrate’s Court who had been dealing with the case had been instructed by a deputy director of public prosecution to withdraw some of the charges and not oppose bail.

As a result of the instruction, charges against Dain Neveling, the man who police had alleged orchestrated the hits, were provisionally withdrawn in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

He now faces only charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Neveling and his alleged accomplices, Hendrik Nunez and Jorgen Jorgensen, were initially charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with an attempt on Jones’s life in July.

In the July incident, Jones was shot several times and was left unable to walk. His speech was also affected because of complications after the shooting.

Jones’s father-in-law was attacked also in July this year and the Jones family believes the incidents are linked, but no one has been charged for the incident.

The three were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with a plot to kill Jones in October.

A decision was also made to withdraw the charges related to the July incident against Nunez and Jorgensen and they are facing only a charge of conspiracy to commit murder relating to the October incident.

Police have said that in the October incident, the Hawks were made aware of the murder plot and had an officer pose as a “hit man” for hire. Jones’s death was then staged and the men were arrested after the money for the job was paid.

Jones said Noko had been very accommodating.

“She has given us some hope in the justice system and we are waiting for her response.”

The Mercury

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