Prisoners hang themselves

2006-12-22 20:10

Johannesburg - Two awaiting-trial prisoners hanged themselves in two separate police stations in Mpumalanga, police said on Friday.

One of the men, who had been arrested for the rape of his 8-year-old niece, used a blanket to kill himself.

"The 19-year-old was arrested on Wednesday, a day after the alleged rape... but police at Ermelo police station found him dead on Thursday," superintendent Abie Khoabane said.

"He had torn the blanket and hooked it on the iron door to hang himself."

The other man, who is believed to be aged 28 or 29, hanged himself using his pants at the Emzinoni police station near Bethal on Thursday afternoon.

"The first man had only been in the cell for about two hours when he was found dead."

Khoabane said police found the man dangling from the window of his cell when they went to check on him during a routine cell inspection.

"It is not known why he hanged himself and we don't even know who he is," he said.

Khoabane said when police arrested the man, he was hiking on the N17 in Emzinoni, en route to Springs.

"He had a stolen duvet and radio with him."

- SAPA