GQEBERHA – Three men accused of the murder of Gelvandale police constable Callan Andrews appeared in the Gqeberha High Court on Tuesday, 21 July, for a pre-trial conference.

PE Express previously reported that Constable Callan Andrews, 29, who was attached to Gelvandale Police Station, was fatally shot while on duty on New Year’s Eve, 2024.

According to the Hawks, Andrews had responded to a domestic violence complaint in Voisen Road, Helenvale, when he was allegedly attacked and robbed of his service pistol. He was rushed to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Hawks launched an investigation that led to the arrests of the accused in January 2025.

The accused include Damian Brooks (29) and two co-accused, whose identities are known to the Express but cannot be disclosed because they were minors at the time of the alleged offences.

According to the court indictment, the State alleges that Andrews and fellow officers had responded to a domestic violence complaint in Helenvale.

After the police vehicle failed to start, Andrews got out to help push-start it. It is alleged that while he was pushing the vehicle along Kobus Road, he was shot at close range and robbed of his service pistol. He was rushed to hospital, where he later died.

The indictment alleges that Brooks instructed one of his co-accused to rob Andrews of his service pistol. During the alleged robbery, the officer was fatally shot. The State further alleges that the firearm was handed to Brooks before the accused fled the scene.

Brooks faces charges including inciting a pattern of criminal gang activity and incitement to commit robbery.

All three accused face charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an offence, unlawful possession of a semi-automatic firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

One of Brooks’s co-accused also faces an additional charge of money laundering.

The matter was remanded to 6 August, when the case will return to the Gqeberha High Court.

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