logo
City security chief calls for 'cop killer' to stay behind bars

City security chief calls for 'cop killer' to stay behind bars

IOL News4 days ago
BUSTED: Craig 'Krake' De Lilly, 36, appeared in Cape Town Magistrates Court
Image: Supplied
Safety and security mayco member JP Smith has called on the State to reconsider it's stance in deciding not to oppose bail for an accused cop killer.
Craig "Krake" De Lilly appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Monday after his arrest on Friday after new information emerged in the murder case of traffic cop Walton van Rooyen on March 17, 2020.
De Lilly, a taxi driver, is alleged to have shot and killed traffic cop Van Rooyen in his patrol car.
KILLED Slain traffic cop Walton van Rooyen, 49.
Image: Supplied
De Lilly was arrested along with his taxi guard and two other men shortly after the shooting in Acre Road, however a month later the case was provisionally withdrawn.
The accused returned to the dock making a brief court appearance on Monday facing Schedule 6 charges of murder, the unlawful possession of a 9mm pistol and the unlawful possession of 14 cartridges.
The court heard that the warrant for his arrest was issued back in March 2025.
The State said that the investigation is complete and that it will not oppose bail.
In a statement, Smith called for the State to reconsider their decision on his bail.
Smith said: "While the reasons for the unopposed bail application are unclear at the stage, we call on the courts to use their discretion when the matter returns to court next week.
"We believe that individuals accused of murdering officers in the line of duty should not be allowed to roam our streets while on trial. If we cannot protect our officers, we cannot protect the public."
Smith added: 'We hope this arrest brings the family some comfort and we call on the courts to act diligently.
'We hope this serves as a lesson to those who callously kill officers executing their duties. If we cannot protect our officers, we cannot protect the public.'
'The case was postponed to July 28 for bail information and for a lawyer to represent the accused."
De Lilly is alleged to be a member of the 26 gang, has a criminal record dating back to 1999 and had been convicted of robbery, kidnapping and rape.
Cape Times
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bogus prosecutor charged after defrauding NPA of R1. 1 million using fraudulent law degree
Bogus prosecutor charged after defrauding NPA of R1. 1 million using fraudulent law degree

IOL News

time6 hours ago

  • IOL News

Bogus prosecutor charged after defrauding NPA of R1. 1 million using fraudulent law degree

Luthando Nomandindi is facing serious charges after purportedly defrauding the State of more than R1.1 million as a fake prosecutor. A former prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is facing serious charges after purportedly defrauding the state of more than R1.1 million. Luthando Nomandindi, 33, appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court in the Eastern Cape facing charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering. The charges against Nomandindi stem from his time at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), where he was enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree programme from 2010 to 2016. Despite being registered for six years, Nomandindi failed to satisfy the academic requirements necessary for graduation. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana explained that between January 2010 and December 2016, Nomandindi was enrolled for a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree at Walter Sisulu University, however, he did not meet the graduation criteria. "Despite this, in 2020, Nomandindi apparently submitted a falsified LLB degree certificate and a bogus Legal Education and Development (L.E.A.D) attendance report as part of his application to the NPA's Aspirant Prosecutor Programme, which required a legitimate LLB qualification or proof of final-year status." said Mhlakuvana. Mhlakuvana said based on his fraudulent credentials, in January 2021, Nomandindi was appointed as an Aspirant Prosecutor and later elevated to the position of Public Prosecutor.

Witness claims Phoenix tavern owner sought to frame him in July unrest trial
Witness claims Phoenix tavern owner sought to frame him in July unrest trial

IOL News

time8 hours ago

  • IOL News

Witness claims Phoenix tavern owner sought to frame him in July unrest trial

In an ongoing 2021 July unrest trial, a State witness has told the court that one of the accused wanted to frame him for incitement of public violence. Image: Nomonde Zondi A State witness in the 2021 July unrest trial involving men from Phoenix has told the Durban High Court on Friday that people advised him to leave Phoenix because Tees Tavern owner, Trevor Gopal, wanted to implicate him in the murder and inciting public violence cases in Phoenix. Gopal is on trial with Ravine Naidoo, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender for murder, two counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and public violence. Additionally, Gopal is charged with incitement to commit public violence. The State is alleging that Gopal incited his security guards and members of the public to commit acts of public violence against black Africans visiting Phoenix during the unrest. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Anard Chetty, a State witness, told the court that the people in the community, including Naidoo's wife, told him to leave Phoenix as Gopal wanted him to take the fall for him. 'Do you have names of these people who told you this?' advocate Jimmy Howse SC, representing Gopal, asked. Chetty said it was word on the street, adding that people who told him are those who used to take care of his well-being as he was sleeping at Tees Tavern. He later mentioned that Naidoo's wife was among those people. However, after a long break, Howse told Chetty that Naidoo's wife was called, and she had denied that she told him to leave Phoenix. Howse said there was no evidence against Gopal until Chetty implicated him. 'I can't say I am the only one implicating accused two (Gopal),' Chetty responded. Howse told him that the witness statements of the victims, who were allegedly assaulted by the accused, claim there was an informal roadblock in Phoenix before reaching the Tees Tavern. He said the victims drove straight through it, and a person standing there was hit by the taxi's mirror. He said the cars that Chetty had claimed earlier this week were called by Gopal after a scuffle had broken out in his tavern while the victims were there, and came from that roadblock. Chetty disagreed with him. 'Those were Tees men,' he said. As Howse backed Chetty into a corner about inconsistencies in his witness statements and his evidence-in-chief, Chetty asked him not to put him under pressure. 'Do not put me under pressure. Why should I be under pressure for something I had no hand in? I'm not the criminal here, nor am I somebody running illegal activities,' Chetty said. Judge Mluleki Chithi patiently calmed Chetty down and told him to answer the questions. However, Chetty told Judge Chithi that Howse was playing tricks on him. As the cross-examination continued, Judge Chithi had to warn Chetty not to be disrespectful and to learn to answer questions that were asked. As Chetty got agitated by Howse, he would consistently tell him to stop playing tricks on him and ask him a lot of questions at the same time. During the commission of the offences, Njabulo Allen Dlamini was assaulted, hit with a rock and a hammer on the head. He later died at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital from blunt force head injuries. Nkosikhona Madlala and Sandile Colin Sambo survived after they were also allegedly assaulted and had fuel poured on them while pallets were placed on top of them. All the accused are out on bail. The trial would continue on Monday.

Defence argues State witness fabricated evidence in Phoenix unrest trial
Defence argues State witness fabricated evidence in Phoenix unrest trial

IOL News

time10 hours ago

  • IOL News

Defence argues State witness fabricated evidence in Phoenix unrest trial

The defence in an ongoing July unrest case involving four men has claimed that a State witness is giving false evidence to the court. Image: File The defence in a trial of four men accused of inciting violence in Phoenix during the July 2021 civil unrest has told a State witness that the evidence he has given to the Durban High Court and the police is false. This was put to Anard Chetty, a State witness, on Friday morning at the Durban High Court. Chetty had told the court earlier this week that on the night of July 11, 2021, he saw and heard the owner of Tees tavern, Trevor Gopal, inciting violence on black Africans, by saying 'We must put the heat on 'darkie ous' must be put before they put it on them.' Gopal is the second accused in this matter, charged with incitement to commit public violence. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading On other charges, murder, two counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and public violence, he is charged with Ravine Naidoo, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender. During the cross-examination by Gopal's counsel, Advocate Jimmy Howse SC, he referred Chetty to his three witness statements that he had made to the police. In the three statements, he asked Chetty why he never mentioned that Gopal had first uttered that the heat on 'darkie ous' must be put before they put it on them on July 11. He said even the charge of inciting violence is dated July 12. 'I have made it clear to the police and prosecution that these words were uttered on 11 July and on 12 July,' Chetty said. When Howse first asked him about this, based on the first statement he made on August 22, 2021, he said he did not go into detail when he made it. 'I outlined the gist of what happened. Because I felt that if I were to spill the beans, I was going to need protection. I wanted the police to know the basis of what happened,' Chetty said. He also said that after he made his statements, he did not read them word for word but browsed. When Howse asked him why he did not correct his statement regarding the dates, he said he made it clear to the police and the prosecution that the words were uttered on July 11 and 12. 'The strangest thing is that in all the witness statements, you mention July 12, and in your evidence-in-chief, you mention July 11 and do not mention July 12. Why is that?' Howse asked. Chetty said Gopal uttered the words on July 11, and on July 12, he repeated them before the victims, Njabulo Allen Dlamini, Nkosikhona Madlala, and Sandile Colin Sambo were assaulted and their taxi was burnt. 'If I never said it accordingly, I made a mistake; it's human error,' he said. However, Howse pointed out the inconsistencies and said Chetty's evidence was false. 'That is the defence point of view. You can say what you like, Sir. I was present, I never heard from anybody,' Chetty said. This week, the court learned that the three victims had come with two other people, a female and a male, and they all arrived in a taxi at Tees Tavern. According to Chetty, the victims had come to buy alcohol as Gopal sold it illegally, as there were Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Chetty told the court that Dlamini was hit in the head by Tyreece with a big rock, and Timothy beat him with a hammer on the head. The State alleges that Dlamini later died in hospital as a result of blunt force head injuries. Sambo and Madlala survived. The trial continues.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store