A Thabong man shot dead a 14-year-old plaintiff in a case against him outside the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Free State police said.
The man then shot and wounded himself, Captain Rosa Benade said.
On Friday, David Soebe (31) allegedly went to the state prosecutor and informed him that he wanted to plead guilty on a charge of assaulting Kopano Zwane (14).
Benade said while the state prosecutor had a conference with Soebe’s attorney, the accused waited outside.
”Apparently when the plaintiff arrived at the court during this time, Soebe allegedly walked up to him and shot him in the head. According to witnesses, Soebe took three steps back and shot himself.”
Zwane had alleged that in March last year Soebe assaulted him after accusing him of breaking into a local shop. ”Apparently Soebe took [Zwane] home, tied him up and assaulted him, which included burning him with an iron.”
Benade said the state had evidence that the teenager was burnt on his shoulder.
Soebe was taken to a Welkom hospital for treatment after the incident, but has since been transferred to a hospital in Bloemfontein.
Benade said a note was also found at the scene that read: ”I’m innocent.” Police have started a murder investigation.
Proceedings at the Welkom Magistrate’s Court were disrupted for a while after the incident. — Sapa