A murder suspect recently handed himself over to police in
Addo after he allegedly assaulted and killed an attempted burglar nine months
ago.
Initial statements provided to police at the time of the
incident on February 16, 2020, was that three people were working on a road
construction site as traffic controllers in Keeton Road at approximately 23:00 that
night.
Due to the inclement weather, they remained in the vehicle.
It is further alleged that an unknown person attempted to break into the
vehicle. Since it was dark, the suspect was unaware that anyone was in the
vehicle. When the suspect realised that there were people in the vehicle, he
tried to run away, but the occupants ran after and caught him. As they were
trying to put him in the back of their VW Golf, he managed to escape and run
away, but the occupants ran after him again.
While running he got onto the N2 and it is alleged that he slipped on
the gravel road and fell over into Keeton Road. He died at the scene. An inquest docket was opened for investigation
by Algoa Park detectives.
According to police spokesperson, Col. Priscilla Naidu, the
identity of the deceased was unknown at the time of his death and his
fingerprints were taken and sent to forensics and the Department of Home
Affairs for identification. In June 2020, the Department of Home Affairs
supplied a name, Givan Van Der Merwe (24) however the address given did not
exist and was therefore incorrect.
“The investigating officer, D/Const Wayne Appolis, made
enquiries with Gelvandale detectives and the Bureau of Missing Persons to
establish whether anyone by the given name was reported missing. The results
were negative,” Naidu said.
“On July 16 this year, he was given a pauper’s burial. At the time of the burial, he was still unknown.
The post-mortem result indicated that he died of spinal injuries due to a blunt
force,” Naidu added.
“However, the inquest investigation continued and the
intuition of D/Const Appolis paid off when he decided to visit the addresses of
the street name that sounded familiar to what was initially given to him. On
September 7, 2020, he went to Stag Street in Helenvale and found the family of
the deceased. The family could not give an explanation to the investigating officer
as to why they did not report him missing,” she explained.
The investigation took a twist, when on Tuesday, November 24,
2020, one of the men that was in the vehicle at the time of the incident,
Emmanuel September, handed himself over to police. He subsequently confessed
that he allegedly assaulted Van der Merwe after he caught him.
The inquest has now been changed to murder.
“September appeared in the New Brighton Magistrates Court yesterday
on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice. He is remanded in custody
until December 3 for a formal bail application.”
Source: SAPS media statement
