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- An Eldorado Park police officer has been charged with attempting to conceal evidence against his two colleagues accused of the murder of Nathaniel Julies.
- Detective Sergeant Foster Netshiongolo, 37, briefly appeared in Protea Magistrates Court, facing charges of murder as an accessory to the act, illegal possession of ammunition and nullification of the purposes of justice.
- Netshiongolo, Simon Scorpion Ndyalvane, 46, and Caylene Whiteboy, 26, are expected to return to court on September 10.
A police officer who allegedly tried to hide evidence following the death of 16-year-old Eldorado Park teenager Nathaniel Julies made his first court appearance.
Detective Sergeant Foster Netshiongolo, 37, appeared briefly in Protea Magistrates Court Thursday morning.
Magistrate David Mhango told Netshiongolo that he faced charges of murder as an accessory after the fact, illegal possession of ammunition and nullification of the purposes of justice.
Netshiongolo later refuted the charges, claiming that when he approached him at the police station after his arrest, he was told that he only faced charges of thwarting the purposes of justice and possession of prohibited ammunition.
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The regional spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority, Phindi Mjonondwane, said they had the right to amend the charges against an accused person.
“It is important to understand that it is the prerogative of the prosecution to decide which charges to prefer against a defendant. It is also within our right to modify the charge sheet, especially if the defendant has not pleaded guilty.
“We can confirm that Netshiongolo is charged with murder as an accessory to the act, illegal possession of ammunition and nullification of the purposes of justice,” Mjonondwana said.
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He said that the murder charge was added as an accomplice after the fact, as the State alleges that after being informed that a crime had been committed, it tried to collaborate in the cover-up of the crime.
The type of ammunition used in the crime is prohibited and its use is no longer allowed in terms of the law.
Mjonondwana previously said that the ammunition used was similar to what police used to kill Andries Tatane in Ficksburg, Free State, on April 13, 2011.
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Tatane was among the residents protesting water when police shot him dead.
The shooting was captured live on television.
“The charges of three defendants fall within the scope of the List 6 offenses. As a State, we will oppose all bail requests from the three defendants,” Mjonondwane said.
READ ALSO | ‘They shot him and left him as garbage’: Family devastated by the death of a teenager at the hands of the police
Netshiongolo appeared in court after the earlier appearance of his colleagues Simon “Scorpion” Ndyalvane, 46, and Caylene Whiteboy, 26.
Ndyalvane and Whiteboy face charges of first-degree murder, defeating the ends of justice, firing a firearm in a public space, and possession of prohibited ammunition.
The three officers are due to return to court on September 10, when they were expected to request bail.
Julies was shot and killed outside his home in Eldorado Park on August 26.
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It sparked protests in the area, and residents called for swift action against their killers.
Police Minister Bheki Cele visited Eldorado Park days after the incident.
