/ 13 October 2006

Johannesburg heist suspects in the dock

Three of 10 men arrested for a cash heist in central Johannesburg which claimed the life of a 15-month-old baby, will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, police said.

The men will appear on charges of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery said Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht.

On Tuesday, 10 men stole an undisclosed amount of cash and opened fire on security guards and the public during their escape.

A man who suffered an epileptic fit and a pregnant woman who fell were admitted to hospital after the incident.

Said Martins-Engelbrecht: ”Three of the men were arrested shortly thereafter.”

Their getaway vehicle was also confiscated.

A fourth man killed himself with a police officer’s firearm on Thursday while being transported to KwaZulu-Natal for an investigation.

The 25-year-old man, from Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, was sitting at the back of a police vehicle when they stopped at petrol station in Greytown.

While two officers were out of the vehicle, he grabbed the remaining policeman’s firearm and shot himself.

The Independent Complaints Directorate was investigating the incident, Martins-Engelbrecht said.

Meanwhile, R20 000 was recovered from a house in Katlehong on the East Rand on Wednesday evening. No further arrests were made and the remaining six robbers are still at large. – Sapa