…Researched and contributed by Joseph Benjamin.
Two suspects who were arrested in connection with the Ocean View mass shooting in Cape Town, which resulted in the death of six people, were released by the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 19 April.
The suspects were let off the hook because they were not brought before the court within the required 48 hours, as argued by their legal representatives.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in the Western Cape said that the case was struck off the roll after one of the accused’s legal representatives protested that the men were not brought before the court within the required time frame.
Gang-Related Shooting
The mass shooting, which occurred on 12 April, resulted in the death of six men aged between 20 and 50.
The motive for the shooting is suspected to be gang-related, according to Brigadier Novela Potelwa.
Arrests and Criticism
A 20-year-old man was arrested last week, and a 29-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the shooting.
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape criticized the NPA for mishandling the case, calling it a gross miscarriage of justice.
Gillion Bosman, the DA WC spokesperson for Community Safety, stated that it is infuriating that suspects in a mass killing may not face justice due to procedural errors.
She plans to invite the NPA to appear before the provincial Standing Committee on Community Safety to account for the matter and the prosecution of offenders in general.