Video footage of how six-month-old Zahnia Woodward was brutally gunned down in a drive-by shooting was shown in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, where five people appeared for her murder.
Christopher September, Larry Johnson, Taswill Kriel, Morné May and Miriam Johnson pleaded not guilty to the murder, and 11 attempted murder charges, as well as the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and obstruction of justice.
The sixth accused, Simone Kindo, has entered into a plea and sentencing agreement and was given a four-year sentence for obstructing justice.
In December 2016, Zahnia was shot in the head and her dad Bradley Robyn hit in the thigh while they were sitting on the pavement in Carnation Road.
The two were waiting for the baby’s mom, Cindy Woodward, to arrive home by bus.
VANTAGE POINT: Video evidence of the shooting shown in Cape High Court
An adamant Bradley testified that he saw September and Johnson in the white VW Golf belonging to Johnson, but could not say who the shooter was.
“I put Zahnia’s dummy in her mouth and she spat it out. As I caught it, I heard the first shot,” he says.
“I looked up because the children like playing with klappertjies, then I saw the white Golf.”
He said the vehicle had driven past them four times prior to the shooting, meaning the shooters saw his baby.
“September drove past on Kommetjie and Carnation Road. I could see it was him as the window was down halfway,” Robyn testified.
TORN APART: Dad Bradley Robyn, slain Zahnia and Cindy Woodward
“They came on fast but then slowed down and shot. I turned my back and placed Zahnia in front of me to protect her.”
He says he ducked for cover behind a nearby red VW Golf, and saw both September and Johnson.
Sergeant Werner Höll, attached to the SAPS Provincial Command Centre, says footage was obtained from three different sources including the Sun Valley Mall, a homeowner in Carnation Road and Imhoff Farm.
He played the footage from the Carnation Road CCTV cameras, explaining: “A white Golf matching the description of the vehicle comes up the road.
“An object can be seen pointing out of a vehicle, a firearm. The dog in the yard jumps, that must be when the first shot was fired.
“Later, the man who ran away first is seen coming back holding something, in clear view he is running back to the red vehicle with a child in his hands.”
ON TRIAL: September
Another camera from the same house shows people in the car shooting.
“Hand movements suggest three shots,” Höll testified.
Footage of the Golf racing down Kommetjie Road after the incident was also shown.
Cindy was at court to support Bradley but did not want to comment.
The case continues.