On 5 February 2010, former Constable Njinga Richman Chili was convicted on a charge of murder and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in the Ndwedwe Regional Court.
Constable Chili was stationed at KwaMashu when the murder was committed. He was subsequently convicted in a disciplinary hearing and dismissed from the police service on the same case in October 2009.
On 16 November 2008 at about 01h00 there was a house party in the Inanda Mission area. The deceased, Bheki Xulu aged 41 had allegedly intervened in an argument between the accused and another male earlier that night. The deceased had called the accused over afterwards to talk. The deceased, Xulu was seated on a chair whilst the accused Chili, was standing. After a brief discussion the accused produced his service pistol and shot the deceased three times. The deceased died at the scene and the accused walked out of the yard to the police station.
The accused raised a private defence because he stated that the deceased tried to stab him and rob him of his pistol in an attack. This version was rejected by the court.
The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) is committed to ensuring that those officers who commit crime are removed from society and put where they belong, in jail.
For enquiries contact:
Moses Dlamini
Cell: 082 809 1927
Issued by: Independent Complaints Directorate
8 February 2010
Source: Independent Complaints Directorate (http://www.icd.gov.za/)
