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A 25-year-old prisoner was shot and killed inside the East London Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he was appearing on a 2018 escape charge.
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana says the prisoner was being cross-examined by the State when he suddenly jumped out of the witness box with a knife in his hand.
He says moments later a gunshot was heard that killed the prisoner.
Brigadier Kinana says it is not yet clear how he managed to get a knife into the courtroom.
The 25-year-old was declared dead by paramedics and an inquest docket has been opened.
His court appearance on Tuesday was in connection with an escape attempt in 2018.
A spokesperson for Correctional Services Singabakho Nxumalo says the prisoner was armed with a self-made sharpened object which he used to stab an official.
He says a warning shot was fired in court but when that did not deter him a second shot was fired, which killed him.
The prisoner, who cannot be named until his next of kin have been informed of his death, was serving a life sentence for rape and robbery.
Nxumalo says the prisoner's handcuffs and leg irons were removed as was instructed by the presiding officer.
