Ex-cops deny involvement in 1999 murder

2012-06-12 11:05

(Sapa)

Johannesburg - Two former police officers denied involvement in the murder of a Johannesburg waitress in a 13-year-old cold case reopened after the discovery of a letter, The Star reported on Tuesday.

According to Carel and David Ranger's statements submitted to the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court, they had driven Betty Ketani, from hospital to a relative 13 years ago.

They said she had not objected to being booked out of the Vereeniging Hospital, before dropping her off with the relative.

However, the Ranger brothers denied involvement or acknowledgement of her murder.

Ketani is believed to have been shot in the head on a farm in Johannesburg and was left for dead, but survived and had been taken to hospital.

The 37-year-old mother was later allegedly kidnapped from the hospital and had been classed as a missing person for the past 13 years.

In May, Gauteng police said a letter found at a house in Kenilworth, Johannesburg, linked six men to Ketani's murder and arrests were made.

Two of the six men arrested - Paul Toff-Nielsen and Dirk Reyneke - were granted bail of R20 000 each.

The court heard that Ketani had told her brother Ronnie she was in a pay dispute with her employers.

Carrington Laughton, Toff-Nielsen, Reyneke, the Ranger brothers and Conway Brown face charges of murder, kidnapping, assault and theft. The case continues on Wednesday.

- SAPA