Man freed in search for boy's killers – family

RELATIVES of a man who appeared in an identification parade related to the death of Taegrin Morris, who was dragged for four kilometres in a failed hijacking, say he has been cleared.

"He has been involved in gangsterism, but he has never been into hijacking," said a family member, who did not want to be named.

Yesterday Taegrin's mother Chantel, attended an identity parade at an undisclosed police station.

Neither the Morris family nor the police would comment.

But the family of the man, whose name is known, said they were told by police that he was not identified in the lineup and would be released today.

But while he has remained in custody, community members have threatened to burn the man's house down. His family said they were not afraid as his name would be cleared.

Taegrin died on Saturday evening when at least two men held up his mom as she was buckling the fouryear-old into the back seat of their Golf GTI.

She tried to release her son, but the men sped off in the car, dragging Taegrin in the entangled seat belt.

The car was later found abandoned in Boksburg with Taegrin's body.

The man was apparently identified by Chantel on Sunday after an appeal was made at a community meeting for information. People came forward with photographs of likely suspects.

"I heard that when Chantel saw his photograph her words were that he was the guy," family spokesman Grant Esterhuizen said.

Several sources said they were told the man had gone to the Reiger Park station three times either to hand himself in or explain his side of the story. He is known to the family as a vagrant.

After news broke that he had been taken to the Reiger Park police station on Monday, about 200 angry residents gathered.

A police spokeswoman said last night that there would be no comment on the outcome of the identification parade.

She added that the investigation was at a very critical stage.

Police have increased the reward for information leading to an arrest in the hijacking to R100000.

A memorial service for Teagrin will be held tomorrow and his funeral will be on Saturday. - Shaun Smillie