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Cop tells of hearse chase
17/10/2007 21:18 - (SA)
Grahamstown - A police inspector gave the high court a dramatic account on Wednesday of how he cornered an alleged robber in Port Alfred last year.
"I stood over him and pointed my pistol at him. He had a pistol in his right hand as he lay on his back. I immediately trampled his gun hand with my foot and removed his weapon."
The arrested man and two others allegedly robbed a Port Alfred businessman of more than R70 000.
They are Ayanda Marhangula, 30, and Lungile Kepe, 28, both from Port Elizabeth. Co-accused Hussein Muanga, 27, is a Tanzanian national living in Port Alfred.
The trio are on trial for attempted murder, two counts of armed robbery, one of attempted robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
They allegedly robbed Jan Erasmus, 67, and his wife Rina, 63, of cash and cheques on October 28 2006 as they went to deposit their business takings in a local bank.
They also are charged with hijacking a hearse at gunpoint from Sipho Kolelwa, 66, on the same day.
All three pleaded not guilty before Judge Jean Nepgen.
Port Alfred police Inspector Joseph Marais told the court he and his partner, Constable Tembalethu Tele, were on patrol that morning when they received a radio call about an armed robbery at Kowie Tobacco Company in Bathurst Street.
"We went immediately to the company's premises and bystanders there told us to go to Station Hill, 'quick quick', as the suspects had been seen running in that direction.
Fired 10 shots
"On the way there, we were stopped by Kolelwa who said his Mercedes hearse had just been stolen from him by three men, two of whom had guns."
Marais said they saw the stolen vehicle approach them and he and Tele drew their service pistols and aimed at the car to stop the occupants.
"As the car approached us, the three men jumped out and ran away. My partner and I gave chase. I fired more than 10 shots at the ground in front of the fleeing suspects to get them to stop, but they just kept going.
"I chased one of the suspects into a garden and he threw himself into the long grass and I got him."
The trial continues.
- SAPA
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