Shireen Matthews made her first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court where she faced murder charges on Monday April 14 after allegedly orchestrating a gang hit.
Image: Mahira Duval
A 35-year-old woman appeared briefly on a murder charge in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Monday April 14 following the brazen courthouse shooting of a 50-year-old man on Tuesday April 8.
Eric Ntabazalila, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Western Cape spokesperson, said a provisional date for the accused Shireen Matthews' bail application has been set for Friday May 23.
"At present the State believes it’s a Schedule 6 matter as she allegedly conspired with members of the Junky Funky Kids gang to kill the deceased. The State believes that the murder was a retaliation for a murder the deceased allegedly committed," Mr Ntabazalila said.
He added that the suspect allegedly incited, instigated and commanded members of the gang to assassinate the deceased. "The State will oppose the bail application," he said.
Members of the SAPS Forensic Pathology Service remove the body of a man who was shot dead in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday April 8. The court corridors erupted in screams and chaos as the sound of gunfire echoed through the crowded building.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the quick breakthrough in the case is thanks to the efforts of the Western Cape serious and violent crime detectives.
"As the team of investigators continues with the probe more arrests are imminent. Since the shooting incident, the investigators worked around the clock in search of the perpetrators," Brigadier Potelwa said.
Western Cape MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, congratulated the Western Cape serious and violent crimes detectives for their excellent work in tracking down the alleged mastermind behind the killing.
"I urged the South African Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation to secure a successful conviction. The judicial system should deal decisively with those who have a total disregard for the authority of the state," she said in a statement earlier this week.