The two men accused of killing Dr Michael Isabelle have also been charged with the murder of their co-accused.

Gordon Monungi, 50, and Rufus Thutloa, 45, appeared in the Roodepoort magistrate's court on Monday on 12 counts, including two of murder, four of robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, malicious damage to property and defeating the ends of justice.  

The third suspect died in the vehicle the accused were using after he was shot during the robbery.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the two accused are charged with the murder of the third suspect because their actions led to the death of the suspect.

“The matter is still under investigation but two people are dead [Isabelle and the third suspect]. It does not matter who shot the third suspect. People died during the commission of the offence.

"We can charge them for the murder of the third suspect because the law expects them to foresee that their actions could result in the death of a person,” Mjonondwane said. 

Sowetan's sister publication TimesLIVE last week reported that the suspects alleged that the third suspect died in the car while fleeing the scene after he was allegedly shot by the doctor during the robbery.

They claimed to have dumped his body and informed his family where to find him and proceeded to burn the stolen vehicle they were travelling in.

Isabelle was gunned down in his practice on February 26 in Dobsonville, Soweto, after three men entered his medical facility under the pretext of needing medical assistance for their ailing friend. Two cellphones were stolen during the robbery. 

Mjonondwane said police investigations led to the arrest of the duo in Alexandra last week. 

“They were arrested on the 21st of March 2024 by the serious and violent crimes, murder and robbery unit in Alexandra following the discovery of the [torched] vehicle that they allegedly used during the commission of the offence when they were fleeing the scene,” she said.

The two accused were found with Isabelle’s belongings and two unlicensed firearms and ammunition, police said.

In court on Monday, the duo covered their faces and asked for legal aid representation.

Both accused told the court that they had brushes with the law previously.

Monungi said that he has a previous conviction of money laundering while Thutloa said he served time for robbery. 

The case was postponed to April 2 for further investigations.

mbelet@sowetan.co.za