A prosecutor on Wednesday expressed concern in the Cape Town Regional Court over the tendency of gangsters involved in territory warfare to lay criminal charges against their rivals, but then fail to attend proceedings as crucial witnesses.
Prosecutor Harold Engelbrecht told magistrate Pam Naidoo that the failure of gangsters to attend proceedings as witnesses was a serious matter, as cases that were scheduled for trial often had to be removed from the court roll instead.
Engelbrecht expressed alarm about this at the trial of Ashley Patterson, in his early 20s, who has pleaded not guilty to involvement in criminal gang activities — a charge framed under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
He also faces charges of aggravated armed robbery and conspiracy to commit murder. The alleged armed robbery happened in February 2005, involving victim Victor Mackay.
On the conspiracy charge, he is alleged to have been involved in a drive-by shooting in October 2005 that claimed the life of Faizel Gideon.
On Wednesday, police Inspector Rudi Truter told the court that gangsters were eager to make criminal cases against their rivals in territory wars, but then refused to attend the proceedings as witnesses.
Drug trafficking
He said the Wonder Kids gang, of which Patterson was allegedly a member, was involved in drug trafficking in the Kensington area and was ever-eager to encroach on areas controlled by other gangs, which caused violence in the community.
Patterson’s father, the alleged drug ”high-flyer” Christopher (Ougat) Patterson, is allegedly the leader of the gang.
Christopher and his wife, Denise, at present await trial on drug-trafficking charges, following a police trap authorised by the Western Cape directorate for public prosecutions.
He said Christopher had been banned from Kensington as one of his bail conditions, but drug trafficking continued unabated at the Patterson home.
He said the Kensington community was terrified of gang revenge and too afraid to help the police rid the area of drug trafficking.
Defence attorney Francois Potgieter claimed Patterson Jnr was, in fact, not a gang member, but Truter said he was, according to a sworn statement in the docket.
The case continues on November 12. — Sapa