|
Hartswater: Suicides suspected
26/11/2004 10:12 - (SA)
Charles Smith and Frans Coetzee
Bloemfontein - The possibility that one or two of the five members of a gang of alleged hi-jackers who died outside Hartswater during a shoot-out with the police committed suicide during the skirmish will be determined on Friday, when a post-mortem will be held.
This became evident on Thursday, the day the only survivor - 24-year-old Tsepo Shai of Shupineye Street, Mangaung, Bloemfontein - appeared in court.
Volksblad learnt that at least one of the five "definitely" committed suicide by pressing a weapon under his chin and pulling the trigger during the heat of the shoot-out.
Whether one of his comrades followed his example, as is suspected, will be found out on Friday.
Three of the five dead men were also positively connected to the murder of André van Eeden - owner of the Friendly Supermarket in Willows, Bloemfontein - who was killed in front of his store by armed robbers on October 15.
Superintendent Anne-Marie Strydom, commander of the unit for serious and violent crimes in Bloemfontein, said one of the dead had been connected to "many cases" in Bloemfontein.
These included, among others, Van Eeden's murder, the hijack of Anthony Neuhoff's BMW, the armed robbery at Fauna Spar in October, the past weekend's robbery in Thaba 'Nchu and a robbery at the Excel petrol station in Bayswater on October 31.
As many as seven cases are being investigated against the gang, although a couple of cases are expected to be added to the count.
Shai appeared briefly in leg-irons and under heavy police guard in Hartswater magistrate's court. A post-mortem will be conducted on Friday, after which the names of the dead will be announced.
Shai was dressed in a T-shirt, slacks and running shoes without laces. On the front of the shirt were the words "JEANS DF 28".
Police guarded the court entrances, while prosecutor Karen de Smidt explained to assistant magistrate Aria Kluge that Shai was appearing on charges of attempted murder and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
De Smidt asked that the hearing be postponed for seven days to December 1 so that Shai could appoint an attorney, as he does not want to use legal aid.
Shai mumbled and asked whether permission could be granted for him to phone an attorney.
Kluge answered that he had to make the arrangements with the orderly.
Kluge postponed the hearing until December 1.
Shai's appearance follows a shootout on Monday when six alleged gang members apparently opened fire on police at a chalet on a guest farm outside the town.
Police went to investigate late on Monday afternoon after they received information that one of the vehicles (a white BMW)at the chalet had been hijacked the previous day in Brandwag, Bloemfontein.
In the wild shooting, four men died and a heavily wounded man died on his way to Kimberley.
A sixth alleged robber, Shai, surrendered before the police's tactical reaction services stormed the chalet.
- Volksblad
|
News
