‘Killer’ cop claims torture
A constable accused of killing police officer Lt-Col Reinier Lagois told the court that he was tortured by police for a confession.
A Pretoria West policeman accused of murder said this week he had been tortured into making a confession.
Constable Rishen Rampashard made the claim when he appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Rampashard is charged with the murder of Loate police officer Lieutenant-Colonel Reinier Lagois, who was shot 14 times in his Moot home last month.
According to reports, Rampashard told the court the police and the Hawks had forced him into a confession.
He said the torture they subjected him to included slapping, choking and putting a plastic bag put over his head.
“Despite being co-operative with the investigating officer from the very beginning, they forcefully grabbed me and shoved me into the back of the vehicle, his lawyer Kineil Muthray read from an affidavit.
“I was kept for five hours, being forced to make a statement and refused contact with my legal representative. I was tortured for two days until I was eventually found by my legal representative.”
Last month, Lagois’ brother Hennie said the slain cop was involved in a love triangle shortly before his murder.
He said Lagois (42) had lived with his ex-girlfriend Caroline Naidoo in the house where he was killed. Naidoo is a former station commander of the Pretoria West police station.
Rampashard and Naidoo were apparently lovers.
According to reports, investigating officer Captain Fire Masilela told the court that Rampashard asked to make a confession that he had colluded with Naidoo to kill Lagois. There was to be money for them, he reportedly said.
“He told us how Naidoo let him into the house, gave him Lagois’ firearm and told him to wait until he came home and make sure he was dead.”
“He then told us he tried to destroy the gun at a nearby park, and when that failed, he decided to throw it into the dam,” Masilela said.
He told the court that Rampashard and Naidoo’s relationship was still under investigation but phone records and cellphone images proved the pair were romantic.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the bail hearing of the Pretoria West constable was postponed to 25 February.
Also read:
Murdered cop ‘in love triangle’
Police officer shot and killed in Moot home
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