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25 Sep 2012

The trial of fifteen policemen is starting at the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court for the alleged murder of Mr Nhlanhla Lala Luthuli (40 years) of Mpumalanga, Harmmasdale, KwaZulu-Natal. The case is set down for trial from 25 September 2012 to 12 October 2012.

The allegation is that on 29 October 2010, around 2am, 15 police officers from Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) Pinetown and Tactical Response Team (TRT) Inanda went to the deceased’s home to search for a firearm belonging to one members of the CIU, who had had a robbery at his house.

It is alleged that the 15 police officers assaulted the deceased in front of his 11 year old son and his girlfriend until he became unconscious. Once he was unconscious, the suspects tried to resuscitate the deceased by pouring water on him - but they failed. They then took the deceased in a police vehicle and dumped him alongside a road where he was found still unconscious. He died on the way to hospital.

The suspects from Crime Intelligence in Pinetown were a Captain and three Constables at the time.

The other eleven suspects are from Tactical Response Team in Inanda. All of them were Constables at the time of incident.

The then ICD conducted an investigation and the suspects were arrested and charged on 19 November 2010. They appeared at the Harmmasdale Magistrates Court. The suspects were granted bail of R5000.

The case appeared 25 September 2012 but was adjourned to 26 September 2012 for the defence to inspect the scene.

Enquiries:
Moses Dlamini
Cell: 082 809 1927
E-mail: mdlamini@ipid.gov.za

Issued by: Independent Police Investigative Directorate
25 Sep 2012

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