Cop claims girlfriend’s fatal shooting was an accident

THE Metro Police officer who allegedly shot and killed his Durban North girlfriend, Rosemary Bell, late last night has given police his version of what happened when the life of the mother of one was snuffed out.

Bell (32), who is the mother of a 12-year-old daughter, was shot in the stomach at about 10.15pm on Tuesday, 19 August in her Terence Place home.

Her boyfriend, who cannot be named until he has pleaded in court, was arrested shortly after she was declared dead. Today Greenwood Park SAPS said that the cop said in an official statement that they were just about to have dinner when Bell, who he said knew how to handle a firearm, took his service pistol from him.

“According to the Metro officer, Rosemary Bell started playing with the gun, but when the officer tried to take the gun back from her it went off and shot her in the stomach,” said Lt Elvis Naidoo, spokesman for the Greenwood Park SAPS.

Neighbours of the Terence Place couple said they did not hear people fighting or arguing before the shot was fired.

The cop is in police custody at Greenwood Park SAPS.

Cop shoots girlfriend in Terence Place

Durban North residents heard muffled shot, screams then silence