Court acquits former gardener accused of house break-in

The Randburg Magistrates’ Court has acquitted a man accused of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.

The state alleged that the accused broke into a home in Bryanston. It is also understood that he was a former employee of the home which he was accused of breaking into.

Magistrate Godwin Sadiki found the accused not guilty on all counts. Sadiki said the state failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The magistrate said the state didn’t bring any evidence to the court in support of allegations levelled against the accused.

The accused was arrested in October 2016 in Bryanston following a house break-in. The state alleged that the accused also stole a driver’s licence from a vehicle that was parked in the driveway.

Sadiki noted that the state’s version is that the accused was apprehended by a security company and the officer involved used his martial arts skills to apprehend the accused before he was handed over to the police.

The accused’s version is that he was arrested by police while walking down the street. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial. He has been in custody since his arrest in 2016 and the not guilty verdict means he will go back to carry on with his life out of prison.

Talk to us by emailing our editor, Ashtyn Mackenzie, at ashtynm@caxton.co.za