Two suspects believed to have been involved in the murder of Brian Johnson, whose body was found at Witpoortjie Station on 6 August, have been arrested.
This thanks to resident and fireman Robert O’Neill and the dogged detective work of Captain Chris Heyns of the Krugersdorp Police.
According to O’ Neill at approximately 1am on 6 August while he was driving on Albertina Sisulu Road on his way home from work he noticed the two suspects – whom he recognised as an alleged Nigerian drug dealer and his runner – forcing Johnson across the road in the direction of the station. O’Neill stopped, hid behind a wall and saw them assaulting Johnson, but he feared for his life and did not want to get involved. The next morning he went to report the assault at the Krugersdorp Police Station not knowing that he actually witnessed the murder.
“My brother phoned me the same morning and asked me if I wanted to solve a murder. He then told me that the one suspect, who was a long-time acquaintance of my brother, came to his residence the night before with his shirt covered in blood. The suspect admitted to my brother that he murdered a man at the station and even told him that he threw the knife he used in a drain in Hulley Road in Witpoortjie, ” says O’Neill.
O’ Neill the asked his wife who works for the SAPS to confirm whether a murder indeed did take place and after visiting the mortuary and running into the deceased’s ex-wife, she told him that indeed there had been a murder. The brother who now could face charges of defeating the ends of justice also co-operated with the police and told them what he knew.
O’ Neill advised the family of the deceased to ask that the case be handed over to Captain Chris Heyns.
“Captain Heyns is one of the best policemen on the West Rand. He still does the uniform pride. He is determined and fair and I knew that he would be able to help,” says O’ Neill.
Heyns rigorously took statements and questioned people connected to the case. The same day (21 August) that Heyns was put on the case he arrested the suspect who admitted to O’ Neill’s brother.
On Saturday (23 August) O’ Neill, who knew where the Nigerian suspect allegedly was plying his illicit trade, decided to go looking for him at the centre opposite the station. When the suspect saw him he tried to flee but O’Neill caught, cuffed and handed him over to Krugersdorp Police.
“The suspect who was arrested still had the audacity to go to the scene when the police was there and talk to the investigating officers,” says O’Neill proving the behavioural theory that criminals often succumb to returning to the scene of their crime.
Both men will appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court today (25 August) on charges of murder.
