Murder trial of Masuku begins
It was revealed in court that the day Masuku was killed was her first day shift after a scheduled four days off.
The trial of Veli Masuku, accused of murdering his wife Constable Prudence Masuku in June 2022, began in the Benoni Regional Court.
Key witnesses, including the victim’s sister and seven others, have taken the stand since March 5.
Masuku and his co-accused, a 32-year-old man, face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Masuku was shot and killed in Putfontein while on her way to work, accompanied by her husband, on June 23.
Also Read: WATCH: Constable Masuku case: husband denied bail
According to a police report, men in two taxis allegedly confronted the couple on Durant Road, Mkgoba Village.
The passengers of both taxis allegedly approached them and fired several shots at Constable Masuku while her husband ran for cover.
When he returned to their vehicle, he allegedly noticed his wife’s service firearm was missing and reported it to the police. The SAPS arrested the husband on the same day in connection with the murder.
Members of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Ekurhuleni Crime Intelligence and the JMPD arrested his co-accused after swiftly reacting to information about a suspect demanding cash for murdering the police officer from a ‘middleman’.
Former police officer
During court proceedings on March 8, the State called a former police officer, who testified that the firearm found at an address in Johannesburg was a 9mm Pietro Beretta.
The firearm discovery comes after a photo of Masuku’s state firearm was found on the 32-year-old’s cellphone.
He allegedly took the police to the address in Johannesburg where the firearm was, but upon searching the shack, which belonged to another man, they did not find it.
The 32-year-old then phoned the shack’s owner, who revealed where police would find the firearm. They found the weapon with no serial number inside a dustbin wrapped in a black plastic bag.
It was admitted in court as exhibit one and circulated for the council to confirm if it was a Pietro Beretta.
The magistrate then asked the former officer to dismantle the firearm. He had to examine it to verify the erasure of the serial number. The court adjourned for about 20 minutes, and when the officer returned, he confirmed that the serial number and a police badge had been erased.
Second witness
Captain Nokuzola Mtembisa, a finance commander at the Daveyton SAPS, also testified to the validity of Masuku’s serial number on a SAP 108, a personal record of state property issued to SAPS members. The document was admitted as exhibit M.
During her testimony, Mtembisa said the day Masuku was killed was her first-day shift after a scheduled four days off.
The trial continues on March 12.
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