15 cops face murder charge
2012-09-26 07:40
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Durban - Fifteen policemen from KwaZulu-Natal appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Tuesday to face a murder charge, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) said.
They were accused of the murder of Nhlanhla Lala Luthuli, 40, from Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, said IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini.
"The case was set down for trial from 25 September to 12 October," he said.
They would be back in the same court on Wednesday after their case was adjourned on Tuesday to allow the defence to inspect the scene.
It was believed that on 29 October 2010, 15 police officers from the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) in Pinetown and Tactical Response Team in Inanda went to Luthuli's home to search for a firearm.
The firearm was stolen from the home of a member of the CIU in a robbery.
Dlamini said it was alleged that the officers assaulted Luthuli in front of his 11-year-old son and his girlfriend until he became unconscious.
The officers tried to resuscitate Luthuli by pouring water on him but their attempts failed, Dlamini said.
They then took Luthuli in a police vehicle and dumped him alongside a road where he was found still unconscious.
He died on the way to hospital.
The policemen who included a captain as well as constables were arrested and charged on 19 November 2010.
They previously appeared in the Hammarsdale Magistrate's Court and were granted R5000 bail.
- SAPA
