A local shopkeeper was shot and killed two years ago, because the man charged with shooting him made his demands in isiXhosa, and he didn't understand him.
Phumzile Bomba, 31, Mzowoxolo George, 38, and Phindile Bophani, 32, stood in an empty high court recently as their charges were read to them.
A local shopkeeper was shot and killed two years ago, because the man charged with shooting him made his demands in isiXhosa, and he didn't understand him.
Phumzile Bomba, 31, Mzowoxolo George, 38, and Phindile Bophani, 32, stood in an empty high court recently as their charges were read to them.
They showed no emotion as witnesses described the events leading to the murder of Somali immigrant, Abdullah Barah Shuk, in March 2009.
Witness Xola Aalwyn, 18, said George had entered the shop, owned by Shuk, and pointed a gun at the shop assistant behind the counter, also a Somalian.
Speaking isiXhosa, he demanded money and airtime. Aalwyn told the court that when the shop assistant did not respond because he did not understand the language, George turned the gun on Shuk who was standing at the entrance of the shop, and fired a shot.
Aalwyn, who was 16 at the time, said he too had been leaning into the doorway and believed at first that the gun was being pointed at him. “I had nightmares about this,” he said.
According to Aalwyn, George then went behind the counter, took the shop’s money box and ran out the door.
A second witness, Andile Makalima, 41, said he had seen Bomba run from the shop.
Later that evening, Bomba had spoken to Makalima at a local tavern. He had told him they had just “finished a job”.
During conversation, Makalima had asked Bomba if he was the one who had killed the shop owner.
Bomba had told him that George pulled the trigger. All three accused, who pleaded not guilty, are charged with murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Bophani is charged with two more accounts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The case will continue in the high court next week.
