PE prosecutor threatened after guilty verdict in gang shooting

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

The police deployed members of the police's tactical response team to a Port Elizabeth court on Tuesday after a senior state prosecutor was threatened.

The deployment of more than half a dozen TRT members came after 32-year-old Jermaine Baaitjies was convicted of murder in the the gang-related shooting of 27-year-old Angelo Hendricks in Helenvale, in 2009.

Pandemonium also erupted in the courtroom when judge Phakamisa Tshiki convicted Baatijies of attempted murder and the illegal posession of a fire-arm and ammunition.

Following the verdict family members and friends of both the victim and accused went at each other forcing police to step in

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Tsepo Ndwalaza, told Algoa FM News about the threat made to senior prosecutor, Jason Thysse.

"We can confirm as the NPA that one of our senior State advocates, Jason Thysse was actually threatened in court. Some war broke out between the families of the deceased and the accused and because of that situation the TRT members had to be called in to bring order, but the court proceedings ran smoothly thereafter and the sentencing is on Wednesday" he said