Anger is mounting in Adelaide after it was claimed yesterday sloppy police work may have bungled a tavern murder investigation.
South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trialist Prisoners’ Organisation (Sasapo) founder Phindile Zweni said the community feared Nokuzola Adonis’ alleged killer may not be brought to book after police failed to properly secure the crime scene and vital evidence at the Guesthouse Tavern in Red Location.
He said although a patron was arrested days after the murder over the Easter weekend, police had failed to arrest or investigate him after he was allegedly beaten up by other patrons and taken to hospital that night and later discharged.
Zweni accused the policeman heading the investigation of not properly investigating the attack as he was a “great friend” of the tavern owner.
Police spokeswoman Captain Stefanie Smith yesterday said although proper procedure was followed during the investigation, they considered allegations of sloppy police work in a serious light and would investigate the claims.
Smith said Adonis was still alive when she was taken outside the tavern to wait for the ambulance to arrive.
“She passed away in the street while awaiting the ambulance service.
“According to the records of the SAPS relating to this incident all the necessary protocols and procedures were followed.”
Smith’s version of events was disputed by Zweni, who claimed her lifeless body was dumped outside in pouring rain, the tavern was closed for the night and staff ordered to clean up the bloody floors before police arrived the next day.
“The police were negligent and may have bungled the investigation into the murder of Nokuzola Adonis by not doing their job properly,” said Zweni.
“The tavern owner should have been charged with defeating the ends of justice after he removed the body from a murder crime scene and cleaned up before police even arrived.”
Zweni also called for the policeman who investigated the stabbing to be charged with harbouring a murder suspect and defeating the ends of justice after he failed to open a docket when the man was taken to hospital for treatment.
He alleged the suspect was only arrested days later and is now in jail in Fort Beaufort waiting to make his next appearance for a bail application.
The murdered woman and her cousin, Miranda Adonis, were both allegedly stabbed several times by another patron in the tavern following a dispute over chairs.
Zweni said the two women were sitting drinking when one went to the toilet and when she came back she saw her chair was missing.
An argument ensued and the man allegedly left for a short while before returning to the tavern and stabbing Miranda Adonis in the head. Zweni alleged he followed her outside and stabbed her in the back.
He said the man allegedly returned into the tavern and stabbed Nokuzola Adonis in the chest, neck and leg before she fell to the ground and bled to death inside the drinking spot. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Organisation slams ‘sloppy’ police investigation
South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trialist Prisoners’ Organisation (Sasapo) founder Phindile Zweni said the community feared Nokuzola Adonis’ alleged killer may not be brought to book after police failed to properly secure the crime scene and vital evidence at the Guesthouse Tavern in Red Location.
He said although a patron was arrested days after the murder over the Easter weekend, police had failed to arrest or investigate him after he was allegedly beaten up by other patrons and taken to hospital that night and later discharged.
Zweni accused the policeman heading the investigation of not properly investigating the attack as he was a “great friend” of the tavern owner.
Police spokeswoman Captain Stefanie Smith yesterday said although proper procedure was followed during the investigation, they considered allegations of sloppy police work in a serious light and would investigate the claims.
Smith said Adonis was still alive when she was taken outside the tavern to wait for the ambulance to arrive.
“She passed away in the street while awaiting the ambulance service.
“According to the records of the SAPS relating to this incident all the necessary protocols and procedures were followed.”
Smith’s version of events was disputed by Zweni, who claimed her lifeless body was dumped outside in pouring rain, the tavern was closed for the night and staff ordered to clean up the bloody floors before police arrived the next day.
“The police were negligent and may have bungled the investigation into the murder of Nokuzola Adonis by not doing their job properly,” said Zweni.
“The tavern owner should have been charged with defeating the ends of justice after he removed the body from a murder crime scene and cleaned up before police even arrived.”
Zweni also called for the policeman who investigated the stabbing to be charged with harbouring a murder suspect and defeating the ends of justice after he failed to open a docket when the man was taken to hospital for treatment.
He alleged the suspect was only arrested days later and is now in jail in Fort Beaufort waiting to make his next appearance for a bail application.
The murdered woman and her cousin, Miranda Adonis, were both allegedly stabbed several times by another patron in the tavern following a dispute over chairs.
Zweni said the two women were sitting drinking when one went to the toilet and when she came back she saw her chair was missing.
An argument ensued and the man allegedly left for a short while before returning to the tavern and stabbing Miranda Adonis in the head. Zweni alleged he followed her outside and stabbed her in the back.
He said the man allegedly returned into the tavern and stabbed Nokuzola Adonis in the chest, neck and leg before she fell to the ground and bled to death inside the drinking spot. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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