6 in court for Metro police officer’s murder
Six suspects briefly appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court in connection with the armed robbery and murder of Metro police officer Martiens Bann, 64.
Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said the combined efforts of officers from the EMPD, SAPS and a private security company resulted in the arrest of the suspects on Saturday, Kempton Express reported.
Kgasago said the incident occurred after two suspects held Bann’s neighbour, along with his wife and staff, at gunpoint.
He added seven suspects loaded plasma TVs and other electrical appliances into the robbery victims’ car and tried to reverse out of the yard. They bumped into the wall and struggled to flee the scene.
“One of the victims and his neighbour called him, asking for assistance. Bann called police before heading to the house to try and assist. The police arrived shortly thereafter, but he had already been shot,” acting Norkem Park spokesperson Warrant Officer Mahlodi Langa explained.
According to Langa, Bann was killed by a single shot to the stomach.
Norkem Park police arrived and managed to apprehend one of the suspects. Langa said community members alerted police officers that another suspect was hiding on the roof. He was also arrested.
“The other suspects fled the scene, but four of them were arrested by EMPD and security officers shortly thereafter. One suspect escaped,” he said.
Langa said EMPD officers first arrested one suspect and were able to arrest three others as they tried communicating with the arrested suspect through his cellphone.
The case against the suspects was remanded until July 22 pending a bail hearing.
After the murder of Bann, community members held a special candlelight service at a local rugby field on Sunday night. Earlier that day, they gathered at Edleen circle for a procession to his house to lay flowers.
– Caxton News Service
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