/ 19 August 2009

Prisoner kills himself in KZN court cell

A convicted murderer hung himself in a Ramsgate High Court holding cell on Wednesday shortly after receiving a double life sentence, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Musa Goodman Shabane (32) was found hanging from the ceiling at 11.15am, Captain Vincent Pandarum said.

”He is believed to have committed suicide. He was alone in the cell and no foul play is suspected.”

An hour earlier Shabane was sentenced to 15 years in prison for housebreaking and robbery with aggravating circumstances. He also received two life sentences for two murders and another five years for attempted murder.

The 15 years for the robbery and five years for the attempted murder were to have run concurrently with the double life sentences.

”When the court adjourned, the court orderly locked Shabane up in the court holding cell …”

A short while later an orderly found the man hanging from the ceiling. Shabane had used the waist cord from his tracksuit pants to hang himself.

An inquest docket was opened and the matter referred to police watchdog, the Independent Complaints Directorate. — Sapa