Murder Suspects’ Parents Manhandle Journalists
By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
There was drama outside Katutura Magistrates’ Court yesterday as irate parents of a group of youths accused of killing an off-duty soldier tried to assault journalists covering the court case.
The unruly scenes unfolded shortly after a brief court appearance of seven youths facing murder charges after they allegedly killed a soldier, Shipandeni Kanyemba, using an unidentified object.
The accused are Jeandre du Plessis, 21, Quinton Martins, 19, Morne Buys, 18, and four minors aged between 14 and 17 whose identities cannot be revealed.
A male parent shoved a female journalist whom he vainly attempted to trip and the same unruly character nearly came to blows with a male reporter who stood his ground.
The group of parents unleashed a verbal volley on the journalists whom they called “paparazzi”.
The parents also threatened to sue the journalists and kept pushing them away and obstructing them from taking pictures of the accused.
Some even tried to grab the journalists’ cameras, while others shielded the accused with their bodies.
The family of the deceased officer was also present and expressed disappointment with the conduct of the suspects’ parents.
“Why are they misbehaving as if they are not adults?
“Now they want to beat up people for their children’s crimes, they should put themselves into our shoes, we are still mourning the death of our child,” said a family member.
The four minors were released into the custody of their parents while the other three are on N$1???_?_’???_?’???_???