Durban - A Wentworth policeman did not comply with part of his bail conditions and was unco-operative with the police investigating three attempted murder matters against him, the Durban Regional Court heard on Monday.
The bail application of Captain Larry Heslop, a suspended police officer from the Durban Central Police Station, and an officer with 22 years experience, continued on Monday with a bail decision possibly expected on Tuesday.
The Daily News reported that in eight months, Heslop had been charged three times for three different attempted murders, with the recent crime allegedly committed while he was out on bail.
Heslop is accused of shooting Michael Bruce, 39, who had driven to a petrol station in Austerville Drive to buy cigarettes last month.
It is alleged Bruce had driven towards an empty parking space, but Heslop arrived from another entrance and moved to take the same spot.
An argument ensued and Bruce was shot.
On Monday, prosecutor Kuveshni Pillay called the Hawks’ investigating officer, Lieutenant Muntomuhle Mbhele, to testify.
Mbhele said he went to the different addresses Heslop had provided the court with, including the address he had agreed to relocate to once he was granted bail, but could not find him. He said he had questioned Heslop’s family, including his mother, on his whereabouts and for a contact number, but none offered assistance or knew his number.
The investigating officer explained that it appeared he was avoiding the police despite knowing they were looking for him. Mbhele eventually managed to track Heslop down at a woman friend’s home during the early hours of the morning.
The friend is also a police officer and had allegedly lied about her whereabouts when Mbhele contacted her.
When police went to her outbuilding, they found Heslop sitting on the edge of the bed and dressed, ready to leave.
Also parked at this address was the VW Polo Heslop allegedly drove at the time of the shooting. Police are investigating if it is a stolen vehicle.
Mbhele said Heslop had been unco-operative with police. He referred to Heslop first denying the VW Polo was his car, instead saying it was a friend’s car, and then agreed to take them to the friend, but later declined.
When police searched him, Mbhele said they found the car keys in his possession.
Mbhele also referred to a three-week delay in getting a DNA sample from Heslop for the other cases pending against him.
During cross-examination, Heslop’s attorney, Ridewaan Sayed, said Heslop did not disobey his bail conditions. Sayed told the court his client had to move out of a Sydenham address because of a rent dispute his girlfriend at the time was having with her landlord. He said Heslop felt it was best to move out and live with his mother in Wentworth instead.
Pillay asked Mbhele if Heslop had informed him about the change of address, to which he replied that Heslop had not.
Sayed asked Mbhele if, during the months Heslop was out on bail, Heslop had influenced state witnesses or affected the case while he was investigating. Mbhele replied that Heslop had not.
Daily News