Centurion parents still seek justice for son #J4J
Months after Josh Edwards was fatally wounded with a firearm at a friend’s house, his parents say they’re still seeking justice and were getting no help from police.
A Centurion family is still mourning the loss of their son and seeking justice for his death.
On 5 January this year, the Edwards family lost their son, Joshua John Edwards (16), in a tragic shooting.
Josh was visiting a school friend in a suburb close to his home when the shooting occurred.
Parents, Tim and Julie, said the precise circumstances of Joshua’s death remain a mystery.
They were adamant, however, that they would not give up in seeking justice for their son and even sought the help of private investigator Paul O’Sullivan.
“What is known, is that Joshua was fatally wounded when a gun was discharged at close range and that medical help and the police were only called to the scene some time afterwards,” the parents wrote on social media.
The suspected shooter (17) was also known to the family.
“Our family is shattered. We will never get over this,” Julie told Rekord.
“Josh has a twin sister and was a big brother to his other sister who is 11 years old. His twin sister feels like she’s lost her other half.
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“They had looked forward to everything together. They were supposed to go back to school together, matriculate together, travel after school together and share all their birthdays. She has had to go back to school alone, without him.”
Josh went to school at HeronBridge College in Fourways.
On the day of the shooting, Julie dropped Josh off at his friend’s house in Blue Hills.
“The school friend had been to our estate in December and had a pet lizard with him. Josh was fascinated with animals and wanted to visit his friend who had a number of pets,” said Julie.
She said she spoke to the other teen’s mother, who was at the house, before leaving.
“I planned to collect Josh later that afternoon in time for dinner,” she said.
“Less than two hours after dropping Josh at that house, I received a call from a man to say there had been an accident.”
When Julie frantically asked if her son was hurt, she was told that Josh had passed away.
“I rushed over to the property, and frantically called my husband on the way. Upon arrival, I discovered Josh had been shot with a shotgun inside the house. My husband arrived moments after me and ran into the house. He tried to resuscitate Josh, but it was too late. Josh was lying in a pool of blood and had multiple wounds,” she said.
“Neither the police nor the ambulance service had been called.”
Julie claimed the police arrived on scene two hours after they were called.
“We follow up with the police almost daily,” Julie said.
She said after some struggle to get hold of the investigating officer and unhappiness in how the case was handled, the family decided to hire a private investigator.
Investigator Paul O’Sullivan wrote in a statement to Rekord that it was clear that “police had not acted lawfully in this case”.
“They should have arrested both the person that shot Joshua Edwards and the father who is the registered owner of the gun that was used.”
O’Sullivan said there can be no dispute that the killing of Josh was unlawful.
“A consideration of the principle ‘dolus eventualis’ would point towards a charge of murder, as any person pointing a gun at another and pulling the trigger, could objectively foresee that the pulling of a trigger would result in the death of another and despite foreseeing the results of his intended action/s still persisted with the act.”
Olievenhoutbosch police, where the case was reported, was contacted on numerous occasions.
Finally, spokesperson Sergeant Pretty Mokadi said that the case was no longer at Olievenhoutbosch police, but transferred to the provincial department for further investigation.
Provincial police did not comment at the time of going to print.
“To date, we have spent a substantial amount of money to try and obtain the justice our son so dearly deserves,” said Julie.
“We also need to ensure that nothing like this happens to another innocent family so we need to do everything we possibly can to bring the suspects to book. We will not give up in ensuring that justice takes it course and that the perpetrators are brought to book.
“We also want to create awareness regarding the handling of firearms and what we perceive to be the inequality of investigations and prosecutions when the ordinary public is involved as opposed to public figures, such as Oscar Pistorius. The SAPS should investigate each case with equality,” she said.
A Back-a-Buddy fundraiser was started to assist the family in funding the payments for the private investigation.
The family also posts regular updates on the Facebook page: Justice For Josh #J4J.
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