SHOPPERS and business owners were shocked as a man, covered in blood, was arrested in the restrooms at Westville Mall today at approximately 10am.
According to Sgt Stephen Clark, the communications officer at Westville SAPS, the man is believed to have stabbed a prison warden at the Westville prison hours prior to his arrest.
“The man knows the victim. They are in a relationship and she was allegedly stabbed while they were having a domestic dispute,” said Clark.
It is unclear if the man is an employee at the prison.
Prison wardens reportedly traced the man to the Westville Mall after he fled on foot. The man, who is believed to be in his late 30s, hid in the Westville Mall’s restrooms in an attempt to evade the officials.
A business owner at the Westville Mall, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Highway Mail that the man was beaten by four men who were believed to be out of uniform prison wardens.
“I was in the restroom when I suddenly heard loud voices. When I came out to investigate I saw him lying on the ground. The prison officers were kicking, beating and stomping on him. They were absolutely brutal. There was a big pool of blood on the floor and there is no way that kind of violence was necessary,” said the witness.
The eyewitness also reported that the Westville Mall’s security guards did not try and intervene, but merely offered the prison officers handcuffs.
“I am not blaming them, as these were fairly large men,” added the witness.
Clark denied the witness’s allegations. He reported that a paramedic inspected the man after he was arrested to determine the source of the blood.
“He was covered in blood, but it was the victim’s blood. He was not injured. He only had a nick on his wrist from the handcuffs,” said Clark.
“He got jammed at the Westville Mall by security guards. By the time our Flying Squad got there he was being held in a toilet under submission by the guards and wardens, and he was handed over to the police,” said Clark.
Highway Mail has not received comment from the Westville Mall, and was unable to reach an official of the Westville Prison at the time of publication.
The warden who was stabbed is in critical condition at a local hospital.
