DNA tests secure burglar’s 18 year conviction
PARKTOWN NORTH – A man has been handed an 18-year prison sentence after DNA evidence was recovered at the crime scene of a house burglary last year.
Parkview police spokesperson Sergeant Lloyd Ramovha said in December last year, three men allegedly gained entry into a property in Parktown North.
The men had convinced the maid that they had come to collect equipment and overalls they had forgotten from a recent job they had done at the 3rd Avenue home.
The maid and gardener had recognised one of the men as being one of the workers, and once on the property, one of the men drew a firearm and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t co-operate. Another suspect tied up the maid and gardener using cable ties, and the suspects enquired about the whereabouts of the homeowner.
Two of the suspects proceeded into the house and also tied the homeowner up. Police said the men then gathered several valuable household items. Ramovha said the homeowner asked the suspects to loosen her as the cable ties were too tight on her.
One of the suspects apparently used a kitchen knife to cut the cable ties, and in the process sustained a cut to his hand and started bleeding, leaving crucial evidence. The suspects fled the scene with their loot which included cellphones, laptops, jewellery and cash with an estimated value of R100 000.
A few days after the incident, a Parkview police tracing team arrested 35-year-old Otsile Tlhokomelo.
Ramovha said Tlhokomelo was successfully linked to the crime scene through DNA tests of the blood left at the crime scene.
On 17 June, Tlhokomelo was found guilty of armed robbery at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court and sentenced. However, allegedly fearing for his life, Tlhokomelo did not reveal the details of the other two suspects who are still at large.
Ramovha praised the dedication of investigating officer, Detective Constable, Johannes Aphane and his team.
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I am thrilled to hear that the suspect was convicted through DNA testing. As I live in the same area and have also been the victim of an armed robbery, I would be interested in knowing what prompted the police to do DNA testing. In my experience, waiting days/weeks for fingerprints experts to take the fingerprints is the norm, if they arrive at all. I don’t think I have ever heard of DNA testing at a robbery ever. Certainly not through Rosebank or Parkview police. Pleased but very surprised.