THREE of the four suspects who were allegedly involved in the killing of a police lieutenant appeared before the Ritavi magistrate’s court on Friday.
Teffe Malangana (23), Lazarus Moseamedi (25) and David Malatjie (33) appeared on charges of murder, armed robbery and possession of unlicensed fire-arms following the shooting death of Lt Yezindaba Meshack Shikati (54) from the Ritavi Police Station on Sunday, June 29.
The three were all remanded in custody and were due to re-appear with the fourth suspect who cannot be named yet tomorrow (Thursday).
Police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, said Shikati died after he and Const Carrol Machaba (35) responded to a complaint.
“They were unexpectedly by two of the suspects,” said Mulaudzi.
It is alleged that the two suspects emerged from the nearby bushes, one carrying a rifle and another a handgun and that they started shooting indiscriminately at the two police officials, killing Shikati. Machaba escaped unhurt.
The two gunmen took the official’s service pistols and fled the scene.
Mulaudzi said Malangana was arrested in Johannesburg a few days after the incident. Follow-up investigations led to the arrests of Moseamedi and Malatjie in the Tzaneen area. “Investigations led to the arrest of the fourth suspect in Mankweng,” he said.
He added that police confiscated three 9mm firearms as well as an unlicensed pump gun and ammunition.
Two of the firearms confiscated belonged to Shikati and Machaba.
