Man appearing in court for assaulting lover nabbed in the dock for murder

A man who was appearing in court on Wednesday for assaulting his girlfriend was arrested in the dock after police realised he was wanted for murder in a separate incident.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the 37-year-old man was appearing in the Johannesburg magistrate's court after he was charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Mbele said the suspect and his friends attacked two men in Newtown, Johannesburg, last month after accusing them of being criminals.

The two victims were severely assaulted. “A good Samatarian phoned an ambulance and they were taken to hospital. The victims were accused of committing crimes at night [in the Newtown precinct],” said Mbele.

Mbele said one of the victims, a 22-year-old man, later passed away in hospital.