Durban - Leonie Luckin, 73, the Musgrave mother of Leanne Douglas who was killed after police allegedly shot at her car, causing it to overturn on the N2 South Coast, near eMkhomazi (Umkomaas), is begging authorities to tell her why her only child was killed.
Douglas was 45 at the time of her death. She was driving from Port Shepstone towards Durban on September 15, last year, when police allegedly chased her vehicle.
“I heard that the DPP could not prosecute because of lack of evidence. I don’t understand how the matter is handled. The station commander uncovers a cover-up attempt and takes the matter up with Ipid (Independent Police Investigative Directorate), and you are later told there were no prospects of a successful prosecution.”
“At my age I shouldn’t be facing such unnecessary stress and pain about my daughter’s death. The least they could do now is to tell me the truth. Why did they kill my child?
“I’m no longer angry with those involved in the shooting, but with the way the matter is being handled,” Luckin said.
At the time of the incident, the Ipid had said it was investigating the case after it was brought to it by the station commander of eMkhomazi police station.
Ipid spokesman, Moses Dlamini said at the time: “The police alleged that Douglas was driving recklessly. When they tried to stop her she allegedly sped off and a chase ensued. The policemen fired shots at the woman’s vehicle causing her to lose control, and the vehicle overturned.
“It is alleged that the policemen reported just the accident and concealed the fact that they had shot at the deceased’s vehicle.
“When the vehicle was towed away, the station commander noticed bullet holes on the vehicle and he called the suspects and tried to get clarity. They could not give a reasonable explanation for the shooting.
“The station commander informed the Ipid as required by Section 29(1) of the Ipid Act,” Dlamini said.
On Friday, Dlamini said they had undertaken and completed their investigation, and had since sent the docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the DPP did not have enough evidence to prosecute any person, and that the matter had not been dropped.
“Perhaps to explain it in simple terms, one can say that there is insufficient evidence to successfully prosecute any person at this point.
“The matter has been referred to the magistrate for an inquest to be held.
“The magistrate will call all witnesses (including the suspects) to give oral or written evidence before him/her with the view to establish if the death of the deceased was as a result of human error or not.
“The magistrate will then make a finding after all evidence has been led.
“Should he/she find that the death cannot be said to have been caused as a result of human error, then that will be the end of the matter.
“On the other hand, the finding might be that the matter must be referred to the NPA to consider prosecution in respect of certain individuals,” said spokesperson advocate Nathi Mncube.
Daily News