An accused shot dead in court after trying to disarm court orderly
On the morning of May 12, an accused individual in custody was shot dead at the Melmoth Magistrates Court in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, after allegedly taking a court orderly’s firearm.
The shooting was carried out by another court orderly who quickly responded to the situation. Terrence Manase, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, stated that initial reports suggest the accused managed to access the weapon during court proceedings.
“In a swift and decisive response, a second court orderly acted with commendable presence of mind and discharged his service weapon, fatally wounding the accused before any further harm could occur,” Manase explained. He confirmed that the individual was pronounced dead at the scene, and further details, including the identity of the deceased and the exact sequence of events, are still under investigation.
Manase commended the professionalism of the court officials in handling what he described as a high-pressure situation, noting, “Their actions undoubtedly prevented a potentially greater tragedy.”
The Ministry of Justice has initiated an internal review of security protocols within court facilities, while the police have launched a separate investigation.
“A full report is expected in due course,” Manase added, mentioning that Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has requested an urgent briefing on the incident and stressed the need to immediately strengthen security measures across all court facilities.
“The department is collaborating closely with law enforcement to ensure that enhanced safety measures are implemented promptly to protect all court users,” Manase stated. Despite the incident, operations at the Melmoth Magistrate’s Court continued without disruption, and the regional court remained open to the public as scheduled.
This incident follows a similar shooting in April at the Wynberg Regional Court in the Western Cape, where a man was killed shortly after meeting with his attorney.
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