Port Elizabeth police have welcomed the conviction of two gang affiliates in the Port Elizabeth Regional Court on Wednesday.
Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the guilty verdict was due to relentless efforts made by SAPS and investigators involved in arresting gang affiliates in Port Elizabeth's Northern Areas.
18-year-old Nealon Redhouse and Jezwin Peacock( 26), affiliated to the Spotbouer gang, were found guilty on two counts of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition, in the city's Regional Court on Wednesday.
According to Naidu, the two accused shot, execution style, Gershwin Morris( 32) and Bramwell Fortuin( 34) at a shack in Bethelsdorp, Ext 31 back in 2015.
"The deceased, Gershwin Morris and Bramwell Fortuin were not gang members but lived as Rastas selling dagga from this shack. The motive for the killing is believed to be drug related as the deceased were selling drugs not far from the Spotbouer territory. At the time of the offence, all the suspects wore masks and their identities were not known," she said.
Naidu said within two week after the crime, the first accused, Jezwin Peacock was arrested at another drug eden in Kleinskool due to meticulous crime scene management and forensic analysis.
"About four months later, Nealon Redhouse (a juvenile at the time) was arrested at his house in Barberry Drive Ext 31 Bethelsdorp. Peacock remained in custody while Redhouse was released on bail," she said.
Redhouse is currently charged with two other gang-related murder cases which he allegedly committed after this case.
The Cluster Commander, Mount Road Cluster, Maj Gen Thembisile Patekile, welcomed the guilty verdict and commended the unit for their dedication and thorough investigation of their cases.
"These successes are as a result of the integrated partnership between the prosecuting authority, investigators and expert forensic analysis. In order to have a successful prosecution, a docket must be thoroughly investigated and presented for the case to be heard at court. Even though at times we may not have enough witness statements or even a firearm as an exhibit, through consultation and expert advice from the prosecutors, we emerge the victor in that gangsters are still found guilty and sent to jail," said Maj Gen Patekile.
The sentencing of Peacock and Redhouse will be passed on the 17th of April.
"The Mount Road policing cluster remains committed to ensuring that the people in the Northern areas of Port Elizabeth are and feel safe and that criminals responsible for gang-related crimes will be arrested and prosecuted," Naidu.
