Families of the men accused in the murder of Mozambican vendor Emmanuel Sithole threatened media outside the courtroom at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court where the four alleged killers appeared.
The four men will remain in police custody until May 4 when they can make a bail application.
Their appearance at the Alexandra Magistrates Court on Tuesday was brief‚ and it followed the overnight arrest of the fourth suspect in the case.
The three others were apprehended on Sunday night.
Eyewitness News reporter Mia Lindeque tweeted from court: “Angry community members gathered outside the courtroom‚ intimidating a journalist saying ‘don’t shoot me‚ I warn you’.”
Inside the courtroom‚ however‚ unhindered photographers snapped images of the four accused as they tried hide underneath their hoods and jerseys.
The photographers had been allowed into the courtroom following an application made to the magistrate by the justice department to allow cameras inside.
This‚ department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga told RDM News Wire‚ was due to the “overwhelming public interest’ in the case.
Sithole’s murder on Saturday was captured by Sunday Times photographer James Oatway‚ and the images of the brutal death prompted police to offer a reward of up to R100 000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.
The arrests on Sunday night were‚ reportedly‚ made with the help of the community.
Yet‚ following the attack‚ Oatway received grudging support when he attempted to remove Sithole from the scene and get him to medical help.
“Help me get him into the car. Help me‚ please‚” said photographer James Oatway‚ looking around at men gathered around him. One stepped forward‚ reluctantly.
Sithole was taken to the nearby Alexandra Day Clinic‚ where nurses did what they could‚ but as there was no doctor – he was apparently absent from the facility as he feared being attacked — he was eventually taken to the Edenvale Hospital.
Shortly after 9am‚ Sithole was pronounced dead.
There was a heavy police presence in the area around the court on Tuesday ahead of the suspects’ appearance as there has been a huge public outcry following the publishing of Oatway’s images.
President Jacob Zuma made mention of them on Monday‚ when he said the publication of the photographs made South Africa “look bad”.
Journalists intimidated as Sithole murder accused appear
The four men will remain in police custody until May 4 when they can make a bail application.
Their appearance at the Alexandra Magistrates Court on Tuesday was brief‚ and it followed the overnight arrest of the fourth suspect in the case.
The three others were apprehended on Sunday night.
Eyewitness News reporter Mia Lindeque tweeted from court: “Angry community members gathered outside the courtroom‚ intimidating a journalist saying ‘don’t shoot me‚ I warn you’.”
Inside the courtroom‚ however‚ unhindered photographers snapped images of the four accused as they tried hide underneath their hoods and jerseys.
The photographers had been allowed into the courtroom following an application made to the magistrate by the justice department to allow cameras inside.
This‚ department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga told RDM News Wire‚ was due to the “overwhelming public interest’ in the case.
Sithole’s murder on Saturday was captured by Sunday Times photographer James Oatway‚ and the images of the brutal death prompted police to offer a reward of up to R100 000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.
The arrests on Sunday night were‚ reportedly‚ made with the help of the community.
Yet‚ following the attack‚ Oatway received grudging support when he attempted to remove Sithole from the scene and get him to medical help.
“Help me get him into the car. Help me‚ please‚” said photographer James Oatway‚ looking around at men gathered around him. One stepped forward‚ reluctantly.
Sithole was taken to the nearby Alexandra Day Clinic‚ where nurses did what they could‚ but as there was no doctor – he was apparently absent from the facility as he feared being attacked — he was eventually taken to the Edenvale Hospital.
Shortly after 9am‚ Sithole was pronounced dead.
There was a heavy police presence in the area around the court on Tuesday ahead of the suspects’ appearance as there has been a huge public outcry following the publishing of Oatway’s images.
President Jacob Zuma made mention of them on Monday‚ when he said the publication of the photographs made South Africa “look bad”.
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