The credibility of a State witness, who has turned on the Terrible Josters gang, came under scrutiny at the Western Cape High Court on Monday.
After a week of dropping bombshells, the former skollie appeared calm as he answered questions about his checkered past.
The 204 witness who testified in the high profile trial of Horatio Solomon, Ismail Ockerts, Brian Fieghland, Ishmaeel Ockerts, Elton Ely, Brent Campbell, Bradley Roberts, Lezay Booysen, Fabian Constable, Ziyaad Saafodien, Keenan Kruger and Lucian Consul confirmed that he has been a gang member since he started high school.
The self-confessed drug runner and hitman, who has turned against his former gang, was cross questioned by Solomon’s lawyer, who asked not to be identified in the media.
The witness was asked about his history of drug abuse and criminal record.
He says while in high school, he joined a gang known as the “ Terrible Souswurms” which he says was affiliated to The Firm.
“Between us we used to say The Firm stands for Fabulous Innocent Robbers and Murderers.
“We hit the children with belts in fights.”
He dropped out of school at the age of 17 and went to work at a garage but started using tik and left his job.
He says between 2004 and 2005 he started to smokkel mandrax and tik with Elton Ely.
He even stopped using drugs until 2010 but then started to tik again.
The court was also plunged into confusion when the defence lawyer questioned why the witness had a different name when he was a member of the Terribles.
Judge Owen Rogers then asked the witness to leave court while the State prosecutor explained that the witness did not want outsiders to know his real identity as it may put people at risk.
When cross-questioning resumed, the defence team put it to the witness that he was a criminal who tampered with evidence to flous police and the courts when he was nabbed for other crimes.
“Yes, I switched sim cards but I never spoke in court. A lawyer would also always speak and tell us how to plea,” he replied.
The defence also questioned why the former skollie opted to stay in Goodwood prison for three months in 2008 even though he was granted bail in a drug case.
He claimed that he knew the case would be withdrawn, but previously testified that it was during this time that he became a member of the 28s prison gang.
He also did not tell the court that he belonged to the 12 Apostles gang before joining the Josters, but said on Monday that he “forgot”.
The case continues.
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