/ 16 May 2008

Gunshots in Kempton Park court as suspects escape

Bedlam erupted in the Kempton Park Regional Court on Thursday when three men accused of possession of illegal firearms staged a dramatic escape.

The escape took place when the three suspects were taken to the court’s holding cells.

”I heard the orderly — who was escorting the three accused to the holding cells below the courtroom — screaming as though he was being threatened. The second orderly immediately went to investigate what the problem was,” presiding magistrate Eric Mhlari told the Mail & Guardian Online on Friday.

He said: ”As he [the second orderly] was going down the stairs, three shots were fired. One hit him below the knee, I’m not sure on which leg, and the other bullet hit him on the shoulder and exited.”

At the sound of the gunshots, the courtroom was immediately evacuated.

At the time of the incident, the court was hearing the last case on the roll. ”We were busy with the last case, which was suspended because of the incident. It was already 3.30pm,” said Mhlari.

The three suspects fled the courtroom and escaped through the court building’s main gates. They were later tracked to the Kempton Park CBD, where they were rearrested after opening fire on metro police officers. One of the suspects was taken to hospital after being shot.

South African Police Service (SAPS) provincial spokesperson Superintendent Eugene Opperman said police are investigating how the suspects obtained the gun.

”The metro police, the SAPS and a police helicopter saturated the [CBD] area. The suspects became panicky and started firing. The police returned fire and the one suspect was shot in the legs. A stolen pistol was found in their possession,” he said.

Specialised criminal attorney Michael Trapido, who was visiting the court on Friday after the incident, said that the court was ”unable to function”, adding: ”I had a matter to argue in trail today but they are all too traumatised and it’s at a standstill.”

He said: ”Tough and hardened prosecutor Kaizer Mphopela, who was also present in court yesterday, is extremely traumatised by the incident.”

Mhlari said that the suspects are expected to reappear in court next week.

The orderly who was shot was on Friday in a stable condition at the private Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park.