Judgment is looming for a convicted criminal who allegedly organized a brazen hit on the investigating officer who helped secure his conviction in a triple murder case.
State Advocate Louis Sinclair delivered his closing argument in the Bhisho High Court on Thursday, in the case against Thando Mangolwane, Siyabonga Zimela, and Siphelo "Spikiri" Bebe.
The State alleges that Spikiri was the mastermind behind the killing of Hawks Detective, Warrant Officer Phumlani Dastile.
Dastile was gunned down in Zwelitsha on 23 August 2021 in full view of the public, by two men with semi-automatic firearms.
He was instrumental in making sure that Spikiri was jailed in the triple murder case.
It is alleged that this prompted the accused to plot Dastile's demise from his prison cell, while the triple murder case was still under investigation and court proceedings were underway.
Spikiri allegedly hired hitmen to kill the officer.
Two of the alleged hitmen, Thando Mangolwane and Siphelo Bebe are Spikiri's co-accused.
According to the charge sheet, the accused and three others discussed the murder over some time and all agreed to participate.
On the day of his death, Dastile was across from Monde's Tavern in Zone 4 in Zwelitsha.
It is alleged that Mangolwane, Zimela, and three others travelled to the street below Monde's Tavern in a Volkswagen Polo.
Two of the men allegedly alighted the vehicle and went to the tavern on foot where Dastile was standing.
The two shooters then shot Dastile in full view of the public.
"When the deceased fell to the ground the accused stood over him and fired more shots at him," as stated in the indictment.
Two of the alleged hitmen have since been shot and killed in two separate incidents.
Judgment will be handed down in the Bhisho Court on 15 May.
