“I was sceptical about testifying because people are too scared to talk against the Junky Funky Kids,” a State witness told the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
Gaynor Leeuwen was testifying in the murder trial of four suspects implicated in the shooting of seven-year-old Ezra Daniels of Parkwood.
Ezra was killed on 3 September 2017 when a bullet intended for a gangster struck him in the neck as he was playing with friends in Abdullah Moosa Walk.
Ikeraam Bianchi, Marlon Neehuis, Kimberly Solomons and Kelly Daniels are charged with Ezra’s murder, two attempted murders, the unlawful possession of ammunition and a firearm, and two counts of contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) for their alleged involvement in gang activity.
On Friday, Ikeraam’s brother, Tasliem “Thaliem” Bianchi, 33, the leader of the JFKs gang in Parkwood, was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years behind bars for Ezra’s murder after entering into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State.
MURDER TRIAL: Ikeraam Bianchi
Tasliem was also slapped with a 10-year term for the contravention of Poca, 10 years for the two attempted murders, three years for the possession of ammunition and seven years for the possession of a firearm.
Gaynor said on the fatal day, the accused were all in a white VW Golf that sped up and down the road.
“Abdullah Moosa Walk is the street that separates the Americans and JFK gangs,” she said.
“I cannot say they were planning to shoot, but the fact that they drove past there three times (meant something). They (JFKs) don’t walk or drive there. But I know when they’re in that area, something is about to happen, a shooting or something.
ACCUSED: Marlon Neehuis
“The third time they came down Abdullah Moosa Walk, the car stopped, idled and Thaliem got out. He was waving the gun. The car was idling toe die skote klap.”
The defence lawyer for Bianchi and Neehuis, Advocate Johnson, then wanted to know if her son is a skollie.
“Accused two (Neehuis) says you have a son, named Keenan, who is a member of the Americans gang,” Johnson stated.
Gaynor replied: “Yes, it’s true. But my name is Gaynor and I am not a member of a gang. I do not condone gangsterism.”
Asked why she had been sceptical about testifying, Gaynor said: “I know how many people get shot for being a witness. En dié mense speel nie snaaks nie. But because Ezra was in and out of my mother’s house daily and in the same class as my daughter, I had to.
“People are too scared to talk against the JFKs. Someone needed to speak for Ezra. So I will speak for Ezra,” she said.
The trial continues.