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South African policemen guilty of murdering Mido Macia | South African policemen guilty of murdering Mido Macia |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A South African court has convicted eight policemen of murdering a Mozambican taxi driver who was tied and dragged behind a police van in 2013. | A South African court has convicted eight policemen of murdering a Mozambican taxi driver who was tied and dragged behind a police van in 2013. |
The judge said there was no doubt that the police could have foreseen that their actions would cause the death of 27-year-old Mido Macia. | The judge said there was no doubt that the police could have foreseen that their actions would cause the death of 27-year-old Mido Macia. |
The incident, recorded on video by a bystander, caused widespread revulsion at the time. | The incident, recorded on video by a bystander, caused widespread revulsion at the time. |
Rights groups have often accused South Africa's police of brutality. | Rights groups have often accused South Africa's police of brutality. |
President Jacob Zuma condemned the incident as "horrific" and "unacceptable". | President Jacob Zuma condemned the incident as "horrific" and "unacceptable". |
The video showed Mr Macia struggling with police on 26 February 2013 after apparently parking his vehicle illegally in Daveyton, east of the city of Johannesburg. | The video showed Mr Macia struggling with police on 26 February 2013 after apparently parking his vehicle illegally in Daveyton, east of the city of Johannesburg. |
Police officers then overpowered the taxi driver and tied him to the back of a van by his arms before driving off, the footage showed. | Police officers then overpowered the taxi driver and tied him to the back of a van by his arms before driving off, the footage showed. |
Mr Macia later died in police custody, the prosecution said. | Mr Macia later died in police custody, the prosecution said. |
The policemen had pleaded not guilty to murder. | The policemen had pleaded not guilty to murder. |
They said Mr Macia had fallen out of the van and the handcuffs "accidentally hooked on to the back on the van". | They said Mr Macia had fallen out of the van and the handcuffs "accidentally hooked on to the back on the van". |
Analysis: Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Johannesburg | |
The numerous cases against some in the South African Police Service over the years have tainted their reputation here. | |
If they are not in the news for bungling investigations, it's for alleged involvement with crime syndicates or police brutality. | |
The ruling against the eight policemen in this particular case has been welcomed as a victory for many who have been victims of assault at the hands of police officers. | |
The ruling may even go some way in showing those who are entrusted with enforcing the law that they are not above it. | |
Magistrate Pieter du Plessis in court emphasised the principle that people have rights, even during an arrest - rights that some in the police often flout. | |
He lambasted the police for not ensuring that Mido Macia got the medical care he needed. For the Macia family, who were in court for the first time today - the sense that justice has been done may help to bring them healing. |
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