Shireen Matthews, made her first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrate Court where she faces murder charges after allegedly orchestrating a gang hit.
Image: Mahira Duval
A Strandfontein woman accused of orchestrating a gang hit at Wynberg Magistrate’s Court has been sent to prison, as police revealed they busted another suspect on Monday morning.
Shireen Matthews, 35, made her first highly-anticipated appearance in court, where she is charged with the murder of Dingalomoyo Chintso, 49.
Chintso was shot and killed last week on the 4th floor of the court building, which houses the Wynberg Regional Court.
Matthews, who is alleged to be the lover of a Junky Funky gang boss, yesterday appeared annoyed as she covered her face as cameras and heavily armed cops swarmed the court room.
She is alleged to have ordered the hit on Chintso, as he was accused of murdering someone from the Junky Funky Kidz gang.
At the time of Chintso's murder, an eye witness reported that a lone gunman approached Chintso and took a firearm out of his sling bag before firing four shots at his head.
Panic spread as people feared the gunman was still roaming the court corridors as sources revealed the victim was a person of interest in the murder of slain Junky Funky gang boss Ashley Phillips, who was shot outside Brackenfell police station earlier this year.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed Chintso was appearing in court on murder charges.
During court proceedings on Monday, State prosecutor, Advocate Christiaan de Jongh, said the State would contend that Matthews was guilty of premeditated murder.
"At this stage the State will allege that it is a schedule 6 matter in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act as it was premeditated murder.
"The evidence thus far indicates that the accused conspired with members of the Junky Funky Kidz gang.
"That she had, in retaliation to a murder, in that the deceased in this matter is alleged to have committed against a member of the Junky Funky Kidz.
"In February this year she had recruited other persons, members of the particular gang, to execute the deceased in this matter."
The case was postponed to April 23 for a bail information hearing.
Deputy provincial police commissioner, Bongani Maqashalala, said police have since busted a second suspect and are now on the hunt for four remaining suspects.
He said following a preliminary threat assessment of the court building, they had opted to beef-up the amount of police officers to avoid another incident.
Cape Argus
Related Topics: