Cops in court for acid murder
2008-01-05 22:04
Delmas - Two Metro policemen accused of killing a man by pouring acid over him appeared briefly in the Delmas magistrate's court on Friday.
The officers and two co-accused were not asked to plead to charges of murder and assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm.
They were remanded in custody until January 15 pending further investigation.
The Metro cops are from Ekurhuleni in Gauteng, but went looking for copper wire thieves believed to be hiding in Mpumalanga.
The victim, 40-year-old David Makhonjwa, was attacked at his home in Sundra in early December.
"They wanted more information to find more suspects. When he couldn't tell them anything, he was doused in acid and died of his injuries," said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Superintendent Abie Khoabane.
Makhonjwa's wife testified that her husband was the sole breadwinner.
She said their 10-year-old son would now have to grow up without a father.
The Metro cops are Phumzile Choepane (28) and Charles Mnguni (34). They were arrested on December 4.
Their co-accused are Gugu Msibi (32) and former soldier Khanyate Mekoa (35). They were arrested on December 6.