POLOKWANE – Shannon Sacco, a gr 11 learner of Westenburg Secondary School in Ben Harris street was on her way home when she was hit.
According to eye-witness the 23-year-old suspect was traveling at a high speed when Sacco was hit. He fled the scene after the accident.
She was rushed to the nearest hospital with critical injuries. She succumbed to her injuries later that same day.
He was arrested for reckless and negligent driving but the charge was later changed to culpable homicide after Sacco died.
According to Delport he was released without a bail hearing having taken place and no blood tests were performed on the suspect the day of his arrest.
“Who approved his bail, because as far as I know, the accused needs to appear before a Magistrate before they can be granted bail. When my child died, his family contacted me and apologised profusely for what happened. However, the way they are acting now proves to us that they have no remorse or sympathy over what happened to my child. The investigating officer delivered testimony in the court on Monday (30 May) that the accused and his family refuse to cooperate with investigations relating to the case. They refused to give police his ID number so they can determine if he has a valid driver’s licence.
“I was shocked to learn during the officer’s testimony that whenever he went to the premises of the accused he was denied entry and the gates were locked,” Delport said.
She said the police did not impound the vehicle the accused was driving when he hit her daughter.
“Within 24 hours after my child’s death, the vehicle from the hit-and-run was repaired.”
She alleged the accused might have an influence on the court as one of his family works at the court.
“My child also had the right to life. She had big aspirations for her life, but these were taken from her and we are left with a big void,” Delport said.
According to a local lawyer, there are no laws prohibiting the family member of the accused to assist him in the case, even if the family member is a high ranking official in the court.
“It will be, however, unethical for her to be his lawyer because it will go against her work contract,” the lawyer explained.
Westenburg Police Spokesperson, Capt Mohlaka Mashiane, said they will give comment after they perused the docket.
The case has been postponed to 10 August pending further investigation.
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