Five detectives from the Estcourt Detective Service were recently awarded certificates that were issued by the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service.
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The officers were instrumental in solving a murder and robbery case. During February 2016, three men attacked a couple at their residence in Estcourt. The suspects fatally stabbed the man, who was a foreign national.
They robbed the man’s girlfriend of cash and fled the scene before police arrived. A team was swiftly put together under the command of Captain Gerry Brits, working around the clock to trace and arrest the suspects. The suspects were netted a week later and charged for murder and robbery.
They made a brief appearance in the Estcourt Regional Court, where they were denied bail. The docket was referred to the Directorate of Public Prosecution in Pietermaritzburg, where it was placed on the roll.
The ensuing court case saw the suspects being found guilty and sentenced as follows: Accused 1 was sentenced to life imprisonment for the role he played in the murder and 15 years for robbery, while Accused 2 and 3 were sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery.
The detective team that secured the convictions and sentences were granted a monetary reward, as well as certificates and trophies for their dedicated work in this case.
The awards were handed to them by Acting Uthukela Cluster Commander Brigadier Bantham on behalf of the KZN Provincial Commander.
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