Murder suspect ‘drives’ police car to accident

MBABANE – Police officers escaped death by the skin of their teeth when a suspect disturbed the driver by grabbing the steering wheel while the car was in motion.

The police car was damaged but all the occupants are reported to have escaped with minor injuries after the car veered off the road. The accident is reported to have occurred along the Mzimpofu- Mafutseni Road.

The law enforcers were from arresting the suspect Ayanda Zulu in connection with charges of murder, attempted murder and housebreaking when the accident occurred. He is alleged to have stabbed one of his victims five times, but fortunately he survived.

Zulu is also alleged to have shot and stabbed one of the victims who later died. The accused  has since filed a bail application at the High Court but the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is represented by Ncamsile Masuku, is opposing the application.
In his opposing affidavit,  Detective Sifiso Magongo, who is based at the Siteki Police Station, submitted that if admitted to bail there was a likelihood that Zulu may evade trial.

“After the commission of the offence the applicant (Zulu) fled to Sidvokodvo (Emasini) where he was subsequently apprehended. After his apprehension he was taken into the police car whereby along the way he grabbed the steering wheel and cause the motor vehicle to veer off the road with all the occupants on board and thus causing an accident,” he stated.

The police officer further submitted that Zulu further tried to escape at Good Shepherd Hospital where he had been taken to by the Correctional Services personnel after claiming that he was sick.

He submitted that there was a likelihood that if released on bail, he may attempt to influence or intimidate the witnesses as they were known to him.
The law enforcer alleged that the deceased and the complainant in the case of attempted murder were his work colleagues and as such he knows where the complainant stays. He alleged that Zulu committed the offence in full view of witnesses.

In his bail application, Zulu submitted that he was afraid that his continued incarceration may result in him losing his job. “I promise to abide by all bail conditions that may be set before me by this honourable court,” he said.
The bail application was before High Court Principal Judge Stanley Maphalala but Masuku, who appeared for the Crown, applied that it be referred to the contested roll.

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