/ 26 September 2012

Fifteen KZN police officers in court for murder

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Moses Dlamini.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Moses Dlamini.

Directorate spokesperson Moses Dlamini said on Tuesday the group was accused of the murder of Nhlanhla Lala Luthuli (40) from Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal.

"The case was set down for trial from September 25 to October 12," he said.

They are due back in the same court on Wednesday after their case was adjourned on Tuesday to allow the defence to inspect the scene.

It was believed that on October 29 2010, 15 police officers from the crime intelligence unit in Pinetown and Tactical Response Team in Inanda went to Luthuli's home to search for a firearm, which was stolen from the home of a member of the intelligence unit in a robbery.

Dlaminini said it was alleged the officers assaulted Luthuli in front of his 11-year-old son and his girlfriend until he was unconscious.

The officers tried to resuscitate Luthuli by pouring water on him but their attempts failed, Dlamini said. They then took Luthuli in a police vehicle and dumped him alongside a road where he was found still unconscious. He died on the way to hospital.

The officers, who included a captain and constables, were arrested and charged on November 19 2010.

They previously appeared in the Hammarsdale Magistrate's Court and were granted R5 000 bail. – Sapa