Lynn Williams HERALD REPORTER
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Bonga Mountain, 21, Mzukisi Yoyo, 23, Masizi Baartman, 22, and Siyabonga Oliphant, 21, are charged with murder, attempted murder and attempted robbery.
The state alleges the men shot Abdul and Abdirahaman Maalim and Abdulaahi Saney at a small business called the Zabalaza Cash and Carry in Walmer Township on June 18, 2006.
Saney was fatally wounded and died on the scene and Abdul Maalim was paralysed. According to the charge sheet, the accused left the shop without taking any property. They were arrested the next day.
Abdul testified he had run into the shop when he heard a shot go off. He said several shots had been fired and one had paralysed him.
“I don‘t know how many shots were fired in total. I fell onto Saney‘s legs. I was paralysed instantly.” He said he could see Saney was dying.
Investigating officer Inspector Marius Smuts said he had visited Abdul in Livingstone Hospital about two months after the incident to show him a photo album to see whether he could identify any of the suspects.
Smuts used photographs of suspects from a database at the Walmer police station. Abdul identified Yoyo.
Smuts said in response to a question from state advocate Moojahied Sandan that Abdul had not been prompted in any way to identify a suspect from the photo album. The trial continues today.
Source: Herald Online, Feb 20, 2008