Angry residents are expected to descend on the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court this morning to get a glimpse of the man arrested for the murder of top cop Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi told the Daily Voice on Thursday that the 39-year-old suspect was busted in Johannesburg on Wednesday night and was being brought to Cape Town to face various charges relating to a plot to kill the seasoned detective.
Kinnear, 52, was found slumped behind the wheel of his Toyota Corolla after he was shot three times in the head by a lone gunman outside his home in Gearing Road, Bishop Lavis, last Friday.
Kinear’s eldest son, Carlisle Kinnear, said: “My last conversation with him was 30 seconds before he was shot. He phoned me to pull my car out of the driveway, he was standing there waiting for me.”
The detective’s murder has sparked an outcry after it was revealed that police protection had been removed from his home despite receiving regular threats.
Before his death, Kinnear had secured a guilty conviction against two members of the notorious The Firm gang and was the lead investigator in several high-profile investigations including the extortion case involving nightclub security boss Nafiz Modack, the murder of top criminal lawyer Pete Mihalik and a firearm licensing fraud case which led to the arrest of cops in Gauteng.
Media speculation over the identity of the suspect has been rife.
According to the Daily Maverick, the man is the son of a retired police colonel, and was apprehended by the Hawks at his home in Springs.
Netwerk24 reported that the suspect is a former professional rugby player from Springs and was apparently tracking Kinnear’s cellphone.
Mulaudzi would not confirm this, or whether the suspect is accused of the shooting, but says more arrests may follow: “The suspect was only arrested on Wednesday night and will appear in court on Friday where the exact charges will be clarified.”
“At this stage there is loads of speculation due to the interest in the case and I am unable to comment on what his exact role was as that will be clarified in court.
“We have noted alleged leaks of information in the public and call on people to avoid doing this as they are hampering the investigation.
“When these matters go to court, you will see that defence lawyers look for details like this and this is how we lose cases at court.
“More arrests are not ruled out as investigations are still under way.”
Police have also reportedly obtained CCTV footage from neighbours, while the NPO, Forensics for Justice, offered a R1m reward for information.
On Thursday afternoon the Bishop Lavis Community Police Forum (CPF) hosted a candlelight vigil to honour Kinnear.
CPF deputy chair Amanda Davids says the community is upset by Kinnear’s murder and wants answers: “We are upset that his protection was withdrawn and we know that Bheki Cele said heads will roll but we also know that politicians like to talk big.
“We will be going to court and expect large numbers of people.
“As a community we are coming together because Kinnear was someone who invested in his community.”