This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19424484
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| South African Marikana miners 'face murder charges' | South African Marikana miners 'face murder charges' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Workers arrested at South Africa's Marikana mine will be charged shortly with the murder of 34 colleagues shot by police, an official has said. | |
| A prosecuting authority spokesman told the BBC that 270 workers would be tried under the "common purpose" doctrine. | A prosecuting authority spokesman told the BBC that 270 workers would be tried under the "common purpose" doctrine. |
| They were in the crowd which confronted the police, who opened fire, sparking a national outcry. | They were in the crowd which confronted the police, who opened fire, sparking a national outcry. |
| Police have not been charged because a commission of inquiry would investigate their actions, the spokesman said. | Police have not been charged because a commission of inquiry would investigate their actions, the spokesman said. |
| Six of the 270 workers remain in hospital, after being wounded in the 16 August shooting. | |
| The other 264 workers are appearing in the Garankuwa magistrates court near the capital, Pretoria. | |
| About 100 people are protesting outside court, demanding their immediate release. | |
| National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Frank Lesenyego said they would all face murder charges because they were in the crowd of striking platinum miners, some of whom were armed. | |
| "This is under common law, where people are charged with common purpose," he said. | |
| He said the updated indictments had already been given to the defence and these would be formally delivered to the accused in court, starting on Thursday. | |
| During a visit to the mine after the killings, President Jacob Zuma told workers he "felt their pain" and promised a speedy and thorough investigation of the killings. | |
| Police said they started shooting after being threatened by large groups of miners armed with machetes. | Police said they started shooting after being threatened by large groups of miners armed with machetes. |
| Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed during the protests before the police shooting. | Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed during the protests before the police shooting. |