Friday, 20 January 2012
Court crunch time
The State and the Defence are resting; the last weights have been stacked on the scales of justice - the outcome of the biggest criminal trial in South Africa’s history is now resting in the hands of the court. Veteran Judge JH Combrink is preparing to deliver his mammoth judgment in the hearing of the men dubbed by the media as the ‘KZN 26’. Judge Combrink is literally writing the final chapter of the real life courtroom drama which consumed the lives of all of those involved for the past four and a half years. The KZN 26 gang were arrested at Mvoti Toll Plaza on 2 October 2006, following brazen cash in transit heists and hijackings at Charter’s Creek and Penecuik, when a Maximes security guard was shot and killed. A large sum of cash was taken, stolen vehicles abandoned at the scene and motorists hijacked for get-away cars.
The 21 year-old daughter of a motorist was kidnapped in the process, but later released unharmed and a police vehicle was blasted to smithereens. The Empangeni Flying Squad, Organised Crime Richards Bay, the Durban Flying Squad and the Durban Dog Unit wrestled the alleged gang to its knees. Unbelievably and despite several assault weapons later being recovered, the arrests were made without a single shot being fired. The KZN 26 is believed to have been ‘the head of the cash-in-transit monster.’ Investigating Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Eddie van Rensburg of the Hawks (DPCI), confirmed 95% of cash-in-transit heists in KZN disappeared, following the arrest and incarceration of the gang.
858 charges and 108 witnesses
The colossal case saw 33 charges brought against every one of the 26 accused.
The charges include murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed fire-arms and ammunition, abduction, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, theft of motor vehicle and assault.
State Advocate Cyril Selepi, also the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and Advocate Vusi Qaba brought a total of 858 charges and relied on the evidence of 108 State witnesses, including 83 expert witnesses.
The trial is being conducted in English, Zulu, Portuguese and Shangaan.
The accused also called a myriad of defence witnesses.
Two of the accused are simultaneously trialed in the Kempton Park High Court for theft of diamonds and foreign currency worth R83-million at Oliver Tambo airport.
Some of the accused have also since been convicted in other matters. The man tasked with the massive responsibility of protecting Judge Combrink, the State Prosecutors, the defence Advocates, witnesses and even the accused themselves, is Colonel AT Slinger of Richards Bay.