Suspect arrested in prison

2003-06-23 08:37

Johannesburg - A 32-year-old man sought for the killing of a Pretoria man three years ago was arrested in Johannesburg prison last week, police reported on Sunday.

Superintendent Eugene Opperman said Cobus Smit, who was in jail on an unrelated case, was apprehended on Tuesday for allegedly killing Chris Nel in 2000.

Nel's body was discovered in the boot of his burnt-out car near the Oakmore railway station on the North Rand on June 20, 2000. Police could not properly investigate the case at the time due to a lack of evidence.

Opperman said Inspector Gys Venter, who was recently assigned to the case, took up the investigation and questioned several people.

"His obvious determination to solve the case drew the attention of an informer who gave him some crucial information, which led to the identification of Smit as a suspect."

Smit made a full confession about the killing in Kempton Park magistrate's court on Wednesday.

Opperman said Smit allegedly killed Nel, who was his business associate, after their relations turned sour.

Smit appeared in Kempton Park magistrate's court on Wednesday and was remanded until his next court appearance on July 25.

- SAPA