Lawyers for Human Rights welcome verdict in Macia trial
The LHR said the guilty verdict showed that effective and efficient investigations could result in convictions.
“LHR is hopeful that this conviction will lead to future investigations and prosecutions of perpetrators of excessive violence – particularly when committed by state officials,” spokesperson Melissa du Preez said.
The High Court in Pretoria found former Daveyton police officers Bongamusa Mdluli, Meshack Malele, Thamsanqa Ngema, Percy Mnisi, Sipho Ngobeni, Lungisa Gwababa, Bongani Kolisi and Linda Sololo guilty of the February 2013 murder.
The LHR said little had been done to bring those involved in January’s xenophobic attacks to book and said it hoped the Macia verdict would go a long way in curbing unrestrained violence.
On Tuesday, Judge Bert Bam convicted the eight former policemen, saying: “The accused must rise now. Accused from number one to eight, you are convicted of murder.”
“The accused, [are] from now on, in custody.”
The eight had been on bail during the trial. Sentencing procedures will begin on September 22.
Macia was approached by members of the police on February 26 2013, after he illegally parked his taxi and caused a traffic jam. An altercation between him and the police ensued. The officers arrested him and tried to place him in the back of a police van.
According to the accused, one of Macia’s handcuffs became entangled around the leg of a bench in the back of the van when he fell out of the vehicle. They claimed he was dragged along the streets in Daveyton to the local police station by mistake.
However, the State argued that the accused were well aware of the fact he was being dragged behind the van.
Macia was later found dead in the Daveyton police station’s holding cells, half naked and bleeding.
The incident, which was filmed on a cellphone and widely distributed via social media, made international headlines and sparked several protests against police brutality. -ANA
(File Photo: Gallo Images)