Police officers accused of Mthokozisi Ntumba murder to remain behind bars
The video footage of the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba will form the basis of the state’s case, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.
The four police officers accused of killing the 35-year-old man appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday.
The suspects are charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Ntumba was fatally shot during a student protest in Braamfontein one week ago.
The state told the court that, since the matter is a schedule five offence, the onus would be on the accused to prove to the court that they deserve bail.
Each of the accused has their own legal representation.
The court head that, for bail application purposes, the state is not reliant on the video footage nor the eyewitness statements and postmortem report.
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Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjondonwane says the state will not furnish the defence lawyers with the contents of the dockets yet.
She says the defence requested to be furnished with the information, but the state said the proceedings are not at the point where it can disclosed.
“It will happen when we are trial. We are obliged as the state to disclose the content of the docket.
“For now we have made undertaking that by Friday we can supply with the copy of the postmortem,” said Mjonondwane.
Mjonondwane explained that three counts of attempted murder stem from injuries that were reported from the incident.
She says all four face a charge of murder under common purpose, while the charge of defeating the ends of justice is because the state alleges the officers failed to uphold the law and report the incident.
The matter has been postponed to March 24.
