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Three police officers have appeared after the death of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies.
- One of the three police officers charged with the murder of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies has a prior conviction, a court has heard.
- The Protea Magistrates Court in Soweto also heard that another defendant, Foster Netshiongolo, had admitted certain things during his arrest last week.
- Netshiongolo, Simon Scorpion Ndyalvane and Caylene Forster are expected to return to court on September 22 to request a formal bond.
One of the Eldorado Park police officers charged with killing 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies has a prior conviction.
Protea Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that Simon Scorpion Ndyalvane, 46, was once convicted of a crime, but the court was only expected to hear more details about this during his request for bail.
The court also heard that another co-defendant, Foster Nesthiongolo, 37, had made certain confessions during his arrest last week. Nor was it disclosed what those admissions were.
The regional spokesperson for the National Tax Authority, Phindi Mjonondwane, said that the defendant had a responsibility to inform the court about his admissions, previous convictions and pending matters during his formal application.
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“That information (admissions and convictions) will be released during the bond application. At this time, we cannot release much as the State. What is part of the State case can be filed in court. We are not free to file our case in the media, it will only be presented in court, ”he said.
The case against the police officers was subsequently postponed at the request of the defendants’ lawyers to give them time to prepare.
Request
“The defense filed a lawsuit that establishes that the accused have the right to copies of the statements made during their arrests.”
Ndyalvane, Nesthiongolo and their 23-year-old colleague Caylene Whiteboy are accused of killing Julies.
Netshiongolo faces charges of murder as an accessory to the act, illegal possession of ammunition and annulment of the purposes of justice.
Ndyalvane and Whiteboy face charges of premeditated murder, annulment of justice, firing of a firearm in a public space and possession of prohibited ammunition.
Julies’ parents, Bridget Harris and Clint Smith, were present in court. An excited Harris clung to Smith and the two shook their heads repeatedly in disbelief as the defendant was in the dock.
READ | Family mourns badly after ‘unstable’ relative ‘shot to death by police’
Community leader Reverend Larry Varrie said outside court that the parents were hurt and wanted to know the truth. Residents were also angered by the teenager’s murder.
“We want full justice. We hope that more witnesses will come forward to tell the truth,” he said.
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Varrie wished that by Christmas the truth would be revealed and the court would have made a decision.
He said that police brutality was real and that they knew there were corrupt police officers and prosecutors in the country.
“The family understands the legal processes and demands justice for their son. It was satisfying for the mother to see the defendant in court for the first time. She feels there is progress,” Varrie said.
On Thursday, the cabinet expressed its condolences to the boy’s family.
He said the officers’ arrest showed that no one was above the law.
“Cabinet calls on the Eldorado Park community to help IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] and continue to work within the criminal justice system to ensure that justice prevails, “said Cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
The three officers are expected to return to court on September 22 to request a formal bond.
