Johannesburg - A man sought for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend jumped from the window of his 5th floor flat and died, apparently while police officers and a security guard at his door tried to get inside.
The incident happened on Monday in Hillbrow and the man was declared dead at the scene.
According to Ndileka Cola of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), it’s alleged two police officers and a security officer went to the man’s flat at the Moulin Rouge building to conduct a raid.
They were working on a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm opened by the man’s girlfriend at Hillbrow Police Station on Saturday. Cola said the man allegedly stabbed his girlfriend with bread knife which was found stuck in her right hand.
“They knocked at the door, but there was no response. In an effort to get access to the flat, the security guard sourced spare keys from the caretaker. The caretaker could not find the spare keys for the specific flat police wanted to access, as such he brought a small chisel to open the door.
“While busy trying to open the door, they heard somebody screaming and discovered that the person they are looking for jumped out of the flat through the window from 5th floor.
“They urgently called the paramedics for his medical attention and they also escalated the incident to the police commanders. The paramedics, upon their arrival, certified the wanted man dead at the crime scene. The deceased was later identified by his girlfriend,” she said.
Cola said they were currently investigating the matter “to determine the facts around death as a result of police action.”
IOL