The Western Cape High Court heard from a cop how terrified the community was to help police nail Cameron Wilson, who is on trial on six charges of murder, including that of two teenage girls.
Captain John Pokemon of Nyanga Police Station, the investigating officer in the Ernest “Ernie” Erasmus case, says residents lived in fear of the accused.
Wilson, 20, allegedly murdered Ernie over a R20 in December 2014.
And that’s why it took officers almost four months to locate and arrest him.
“ Mense is bang om inligting te gee. People did not want to give a description, an address, nothing. They were scared,” Pokemon testified.
“It was in April 2015 that I received some positive information and immediately mobilised my colleagues. We received a description of Wilson and upon coming into Heinz Park, we saw four men sitting in the park. By the description, I could identify Wilson and he was soon arrested.”
Wilson faces 15 charges in total, including the slaughter of Lekita Moore, 19, in September last year.
Earlier, the defence completed their cross-questioning of an alleged rape victim of Wilson's.
Mohamed Sibda told the court [and victim] Wilson denied the entire incident.
The victim then lashed out at Wilson, saying: “ Hoe kon jy sê jy het dit nie gedoen nie? As jy so sê, hoe kry ek dan die stiek merk in my nek?” she said, pointing to a scar in her neck.
The court also heard from a witness who previously testified about the murder of his father, who Wilson allegedly gunned down on October 24, 2014.
Walleed Armien, son of Toyher Stober, took the stand on behalf of the rape victim he helped that night.
Armien said he saw the victim coming down the street while he was standing on the corner and she collapsed as she came closer to him.
“I tried to keep her awake and asked her what happened. When she came to, she said ‘Wong’ [Wilson’s nickname] stabbed her in the neck and raped her,” Armien told the court.
He said he then took the victim to the home of a relative who had a car.
“We rushed with her to Mitchells Plain Day Hospital. I went with until she was admitted to the hospital, but then soon returned home after that,” he testified.
The court also heard the testimony of the victim’s stepmother, who says she could hardly speak but was screaming in agony all the way to the hospital and all she could utter was that she had been stabbed and raped.
The trial continues.