State to oppose bail for murder-accused Anti-Gang Unit cops

THE State intends to oppose bail for the 11 Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officers who face charges of murder, assault, kidnapping and torture. 

The officers, who may not be identified as per court ruling, returned to the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Monday.

They are accused of the murder of Wade Price from Manenberg on December 4 after an interrogation following a shooting incident outside the same court a week ago.

The accused face Schedule 6 offences including charges of murder, four counts of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, four counts of kidnapping and one count of torture.

The court previously heard that Price and three complainants were taken to Manenberg SAPS.

According to court documents, the accused allegedly kidnapped Price and the trio from Helen Court to the police station, refusing them the right to exit.

Court documents read: “At or near Manenberg police station the accused unlawfully and intentionally assaulted Wade Price with the intent to cause him grievous bodily harm by kicking him in the face, hitting him multiple times with their hands.”

The accused are also charged with hitting the others multiple times in their faces.

The court heard that the trio were eventually released from the station, however Price was taken to an address in Vygekraal Road where he was killed after being hit him multiple times with unknown objects on his head and body, was restrained and smothered/choked and tortured.

According to reports, Price entered the property alive with the members, but moments later emergency services and other police officials arrived and that was when his body was removed from the property.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that the State intends on opposing bail for all accused.

A petition has since received more than 1 000 signatures calling for the officers' release.

The petition states: “The AGU officers have always been at the forefront, putting their lives at risk to protect our communities from violent criminals. Their routine duties include engaging those who seek to disrupt the peace and ensuring that citizens can feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, in the course of executing their responsibilities, they have been blamed and are now being kept in a cell alongside criminals, far removed from their noble roles."

The case was postponed to Thursday and Friday for a formal bail application.

Cape Times