"I HAVE made a mistake. I've shot a child," a police officer allegedly told a colleague after shooting dead a 3-year-old boy seating in the back seat of a car.
Little Atlegang Phalane was with his father and two uncles when he was killed in Klipfontein View, near Midrand, on November 7 last year.
One of the uncles, Peter Monaiwa, who was then wanted by police for the murder of a man in Alexandra earlier that year, said he was about to get into the car when a VW Golf pulled up and a shot was fired.
Monaiwa is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for house robbery and theft. He and the Atlegang's father Vusi Mchunu, who is also in prison for attempted murder, were giving evidence in the Thembisa magistrate's court yesterday on the death of the boy.
"After the shot, someone grabbed my legs and told me to lie on the ground. Talking to a colleague, one of the men said: 'I've made a mistake, I've shot a child'," Monaiwa told the court.
He added: "An off-duty paramedic certified Atlegang dead. The cop did not show remorse after killing him. He paced up and down the road, eating sweets."
Constable Shadrack Seila Malaka has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.
Atlegang's uncle Bongani Mchunu told the court: "A car screeched to a halt next to ours and without a word, a gunshot was fired. I was carrying Atlegang when Malaka ordered me to lie on the ground. I asked him: 'Do you know what you have done?' Malaka took the boy and laid him on the ground."
Mchunu said Atlegang's father Vusi later arrived - his hands bound with a belt - with other cops. More officers arrived and ordered us to get into a van."
Malaka's defence Advocate Michael Hellens said: "You were the cause of Atlegang's death. You held your hands together as if you were holding a firearm. Malaka thought you were holding a firearm."
Malaka was investigating a murder that happened at a tavern in September last year.
Monaiwa has four pending cases, including charges of house robbery, theft of motor vehicle and possession of unlicensed firearm.
The trial continues today.
'Killer' cop showed no remorse
"I HAVE made a mistake. I've shot a child," a police officer allegedly told a colleague after shooting dead a 3-year-old boy seating in the back seat of a car.
Little Atlegang Phalane was with his father and two uncles when he was killed in Klipfontein View, near Midrand, on November 7 last year.
One of the uncles, Peter Monaiwa, who was then wanted by police for the murder of a man in Alexandra earlier that year, said he was about to get into the car when a VW Golf pulled up and a shot was fired.
Monaiwa is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for house robbery and theft. He and the Atlegang's father Vusi Mchunu, who is also in prison for attempted murder, were giving evidence in the Thembisa magistrate's court yesterday on the death of the boy.
"After the shot, someone grabbed my legs and told me to lie on the ground. Talking to a colleague, one of the men said: 'I've made a mistake, I've shot a child'," Monaiwa told the court.
He added: "An off-duty paramedic certified Atlegang dead. The cop did not show remorse after killing him. He paced up and down the road, eating sweets."
Constable Shadrack Seila Malaka has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.
Atlegang's uncle Bongani Mchunu told the court: "A car screeched to a halt next to ours and without a word, a gunshot was fired. I was carrying Atlegang when Malaka ordered me to lie on the ground. I asked him: 'Do you know what you have done?' Malaka took the boy and laid him on the ground."
Mchunu said Atlegang's father Vusi later arrived - his hands bound with a belt - with other cops. More officers arrived and ordered us to get into a van."
Malaka's defence Advocate Michael Hellens said: "You were the cause of Atlegang's death. You held your hands together as if you were holding a firearm. Malaka thought you were holding a firearm."
Malaka was investigating a murder that happened at a tavern in September last year.
Monaiwa has four pending cases, including charges of house robbery, theft of motor vehicle and possession of unlicensed firearm.
The trial continues today.
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