Teen in court for AK-47 assault
2008-06-28 11:08
Komatipoort - A 14-year-old boy has appeared in court in connection with shooting a woman with an AK-47 assault rifle in the holiday town of Marloth Park in Mpumalanga.
He was arrested last Tuesday, while his 12-year-old friend was shot dead in a shootout with police.
"They are believed to be illegal immigrants from Mozambique and may be responsible for several break-ins in the area," said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi.
Marloth Park borders the Kruger National Park near Komatipoort and wild animals such as lion are known to roam the streets.
The 14-year-old boy appeared in the Komatipoort periodical court on Thursday. He was not asked to plead to charges of attempted murder and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
He was remanded and sent to a place of safety until his next appearance on July 10.
The woman who was attacked in Marloth Park was Allison Fitzgerald, 45.
She told police that she was at her front door when a boy carrying an AK-47 shot at her twice.
"The first shot flew over her left shoulder and grazed her hair and the second hit the ring finger on her left hand. They fled the scene without taking anything from her," said Hlathi.
The boys were cornered on a nearby housing estate.
They shot at the police, who fired back and killed the 12-year-old boy. The boy had been armed with a 9mm pistol. Police have not been identified him yet.