‘Print links accused to heist’
Evidence on gun points to one of suspects in Fischer’s Jewellers robbery, says police expert
Fingerprints lifted from a pistol allegedly used in the July 2016 Fischer’s Jewellers heist positively linked one of the four men accused of orchestrating the brazen robbery which resulted in the killing of a man in the Greenacres parking lot, the Port Elizabeth High Court heard on Wednesday.
Testifying for the state, fingerprint expert Detective Warrant Officer Kelvin Swartbooi said the print on the magazine of a Z88 Vektor pistol found in a black handbag in a taxi in Schauderville on July 29 2016 was that of Lindokuhle January.
Swartbooi, from the provincial crime scene investigation unit, said the only way the fingerprint would have wound up on the magazine was if January had held it with his hand clenched around the magazine.
January, 21, Olwethu Dlanga, 21, Awonke Yako, 20 and Lonwabo Maweni, 42, have pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges, which include murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
It is alleged that the group robbed Fischer’s of more than R600,000 and then tried to hijack a red VW Golf. The driver managed to drive away.
Two of the men then allegedly tried to hijack a white Mitsubishi Colt bakkie and shot dead Ronald Goduka, 67.
It is also alleged that on July 2 2016, the group hijacked a man in Komani and made off with his Honda CR-V.
That vehicle was used in the Fischer’s robbery.
Swartbooi said he had found in the Honda a palm print belonging to Xolisa Mantana, who was also allegedly part of the heist but died shortly after the incident.
January’s lawyer, Zolile Ngqeza, said his client had admitted to handling the pistol’s magazine, but this was because the person next to him in a taxi had dropped something between the seats.
When January picked it up and handed it back he had realised it was a magazine.
“Soon after that police arrived and told everyone to get out [of the taxi] and everyone was searched. Nothing was found on [January] except money,” Ngqeza said.
Ngqeza questioned Swartbooi about why he had mentioned only the one fingerprint in his statement because he (Ngqeza) could see more on the magazine in the photographs submitted as evidence.
Swartbooi said all the fingerprints belonged to January and the one cited was the most identifiable one, but he would supply the court with a report regarding all the prints found on the magazine if it was required.
“All the fingerprints on the magazine belong to [January].
“This gives me the impression that [January] was the last person who handled the magazine.”
Swartbooi said that the other firearm collected as evidence, a Taurus pistol, had not had any identifiable fingerprints on it.
The case continues.
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