Prosecutor held for murder

25 May 2010, 07:29

A Soweto prosecutor has been arrested and charged with the murder of a teenager.

Mervin Booysen, 31, of Lenasia, was arrested at his office at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court yesterday following a decision by the senior public prosecutor, who recommended that he be charged with the murder of Christopher Ramokonopi.

Christopher, 19, was killed at a tavern in Lenasia on February 21 last year, and it took the police more than 15 months to arrest the alleged perpetrator.

It is alleged that Booysen used a sharp object to stab Christopher in his chest and shoulder, before slitting the teenager's throat.

Christopher dropped dead as he tried to ask some police officers for help.

After his arrest, Booysen was whisked off to the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court for a brief appearance. He was not asked to plead to the charge.

The case against him was postponed for a bail application, to be held within seven days.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokeswoman Charleen Labuschagne yesterday confirmed Booysen's arrest and court appearance.

She said the matter was referred to Joburg because Booysen was known to various prosecutors at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court where he works as well as the Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto.

She confirmed that Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Sello Maema's office was aware of the arrest, but could not say what disciplinary procedure Booysen could face.

"It is an internal labour matter and would be dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NPA," said Labuschagne.

According to some witnesses to the crime, the incident was sparked by a fight between Christopher and one of Booysen's friends at Dudu's Tavern. Christopher apparently overpowered Booysen's friend, which allegedly prompted the prosecutor to intervene in a revenge attack.

The witnesses are claiming that Booysen attacked Christopher with a broken bottle.

Last night, Christopher's family expressed their gratitude and joy over the arrest, saying they had waited long for it to happen.

The teenager's brother, Dr Lekhotla Ramokonopi, said his family were longing for justice to be done, and that people should not be allowed to kill randomly.

He said the alleged killer had never bothered to approach his family to show remorse.

"He never said sorry. We don't even know him," Ramokonopi said. He said the death of his youngest brother had taken a toll on their ailing mother, Maina Ramokonopi.

Ramokonopi said they were alerted to his brother's murder by his friend. They went to the Lenasia police station, but were sent to the Diepkloof mortuary, where Christopher's body had been taken.

"My brother was a street kid, but at the time he had been working for two months in my surgery in Vereeniging, which I share with my sister, who is also a medical doctor.

"On that morning, he asked me for R150. I gave him the money to visit his friend in Lenasia," Ramokonopi said.

He said that the next day, he had to identify the body.



This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on May 25, 2010

The Star

Comments by Sonny

Let's see whether Menzi Simelani redeploys this prosecutor with promotion?

How is this only 'an internal affair?"

More like a cover up.

Some public prosecutors need anger management as a matter of urgency.