The four men accused of killing two police officers and two women in Reiger Park in August are expected to learn on Tuesday whether they will be released on bail. Reagan Cheslin Collis, 23, Jamal Meyer, 24, Elvino Levert Crafford, 27, and Mcfoolen Ford, 26, face charges arising from the deaths of Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit officers Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28, as well as civilians Roleen Lessing and Jaydin Margerman.
The charges stem from an August 7 shooting in Reiger Park that claimed the lives of the four victims. The men face four counts of murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and charges under the Firearms Control Act. During their last court appearance on September 23, the bail judgment was postponed to Tuesday after both the state and defence agreed to the postponement.
The state alleges that the shooting followed an earlier attempt on the life of a rival gang member, and that the rival gang returned to Reiger Park to retaliate, resulting in the deaths of the four victims. The state also alleges that Collis helped conceal firearms taken from the slain police officers. Additionally, the state claims that CCTV footage shows the men’s movements the night of the murders and that a witness identified Collis and Meyer and described their alleged roles in the shootings.
However, Collis has denied possessing a firearm and alleged that police tortured him for more than three hours and forced him to confess to the killings and implicate Meyer. His attorney, Samkele Kuzani, played three video clips in court, which he said supported Collis’ claim that he was at home with friends when the shootings happened. Kuzani argued that there is no eyewitness who saw Collis pull the trigger.
The defence has also objected to an allegation that Collis was found in possession of a cellphone while behind bars for the second time. Prosecutor Leswikane Mashabela told the court that the state had received correspondence from Boksburg Correctional Services concerning Collis’ alleged conduct while in custody. Mashabela said Correctional Services considered possession of a cellphone a security risk and that it could result in a further risk assessment of Collis.
The accused have indicated that they can afford bail of R2,000 each. During the bail hearing, Kuzani confirmed that Collis, Meyer, and Crafford had agreed to the October 6 postponement. Ford’s attorney, Viara Thatcher, also confirmed the agreement and asked the court for an opportunity to file written heads of argument before the next hearing.
The state disputes the evidentiary value of the video clips played by the defence, saying the original CCTV recordings had been sent to the forensic science laboratory for analysis. The state says that no witness had been called to authenticate or explain the footage and that it could rely on circumstantial as well as direct evidence to implicate the men. The bail judgment will determine whether the four men will be released on bail pending their trial.
Key points
- The four men accused of the Reiger Park murders face four counts of murder and other charges.
- The state alleges that the shooting was a retaliation by a rival gang.
- The accused claim they were forced to confess to the killings.
