Tuesday, February 10, 2015
JOHANNESBURG – A case involving a Somali man, accused of killing a teenager during looting last month, was struck off the roll in the Atteridgeville Magistrates Court.
Iman Abdirahman was arrested with three others in Atteridgeville after a 19-year-old was shot dead in the area.
The other suspects were released after an identification parade was conducted and only Abdirahman was identified.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Velekhaya Mgobhozi said the Somali shop owner was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
“The state at this moment is not able to prove whether the gunshot came from the accused himself or from general members [of the public] as the violence was taking place.”
Violence and looting erupted in some Gauteng townships last month after another teenager, 14-year-old Siphiwe Mahori, was shot dead in Snake Park, Soweto.
He was allegedly part of a group trying to rob a Somali man’s shop.
Over 180 people were arrested in connection with public violence and possession of stolen property.
Seven people were killed during the violence.
The youngest victim was a one month-old baby.