Two Alex men were remanded in custody by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for the robbery of a taxi operator and the possession of an illegal firearm.
They will reappear in court after further investigations have been concluded.
Evidence presented was that the two allegedly broke into the operator’s home in Marlboro in November last year and stole his national identity document, clothing items, car radio, battery, speakers and amplifiers.
All the items were valued at R11 700. The accused were also said to have earlier broken into an adjoining room of the victim’s neighbour whom they allegedly assaulted and injured and took his three cellphones worth R3 100 when he declined to disclose knowledge of the victim’s whereabouts.
They were arrested this month after the victim saw them in a vehicle with one of them wearing his clothes. Police were called and the two men tried to flee in the vehicle but were arrested after a shootout. One of them was injured and admitted to hospital under police guard. Their gun was recovered and sent for ballistic testing.
In mitigation, the accused claimed they intended returning the stolen items if the victim paid off a balance of R500 he owed to their friend for the purchase of a motor vehicle.
The case continues.
