The Alex Magistrates’ Court has postponed a murder case in which a local councillor is allegedly implicated to 18 August.
The case which dates back to 2010, has been postponed several times due to among others, loss of dockets. The case involves an assault of two victims, one of whom died of his injuries, allegedly committed by their then-employer, a businessman who operates a shop near PanAfrica Mall.
The businessman, along with his friend the councillor, are alleged to have assaulted the victims together with another man currently in prison on a different charge. It is claimed they assaulted the victims after accusing them of robbing the businessman’s shop.
In his evidence to the court, the assault survivor who is said to have resided near the shop, alleged that on the day, the shop owner summoned him to the shop early in the morning and accused him of the robbery. When he denied knowledge of it, the owner allegedly slapped and beat him with his fists before tying his hands up with string. He allegedly forced him into a van and drove him to a house in Marlboro. The victim claims that once there, the shop owner continued to accuse him of the robbery and tied his hands up with rope.
The victim alleged that the owner was joined by the now-councillor and the third man, who forced him to crouch on the ground. They allegedly threatened to kill him if he didn’t admit to the robbery or disclose the robber(s). When he denied involvement, the three men beat and kicked him on body and head, and occasionally used what he said felt like wood. The man alleged that the three also covered his head with a mask which they removed when questioning him before replacing it and continuing to beat him.
The man claimed he was beaten until the evening and sustained broken ribs, swellings on his face and upper body before the three men forced him back into the van. The victim alleged that they then drove to the 7th Avenue home of the deceased man who, he testified, they also assaulted, resulting in his death.
The victim and other witnesses will lead further evidence and will also be cross-examined when the court reconvenes.
