Murder of Charl Kinnear
| Date | 18 September 2020 |
|---|---|
| Time | 15:03 SAST |
| Venue | Outside the home of the victim |
| Location | Bishop Lavis,Cape Town,South Africa |
| Coordinates | 33°56′46″S18°35′23″E/ 33.9462°S 18.5896°E |
| Cause | Shooting |
| Motive | Assassination of a police officer investigating state corruption |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Suspects |
|
Themurder of Charl Kinnearoccurred at around 15:03SASTon 18 September 2020[1]as he was leaving his home inBishop Lavis,Cape Town, South Africa.[2]He was shot multiple times in the upper body whilst seated in the driver's seat of his whiteToyota Corollaresulting in his death.[2]Kinnear was a lieutenant colonel in theSouth African Police Service(SAPS) and was the section commander for the Western Cape anti-gang unit.[2]Former pro rugby player Zane Killian was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with Kinnear's murder.[3][4]Kinnear's mobile phone had been illegally tracked 2,116 times by Killian before his murder using a specialised mobile phone tracking device and software.[5]
At the time of his death Kinnear was investigating a gun racketeering case involving the alleged organised crime bossNafiz Modackand 8 high-ranking police officers.[5]TheIndependent Police Investigative Directorate(IPID) reported that Kinnear's death could result in the collapse of a number of high-profile organised crime cases that he was investigating.[6]The same report stated that there was a “rogue unit” in the Western Cape Crime Intelligence Division of SAPS and commended Kinnear's investigation of corruption within the organisation.[6]
Modack and two additional suspects (Amaal Jantjies and Janick Adonis) were arrested and charged for Kinnear's murder in 2021.[7]Recordings made by Jantjies indicated that a prior unsuccessful attempt on Kinnear's life had been made when ahand grenadefailed to detonate in front of Kinnear's home on 23 November 2019.[8][9]Following the first attempt a police detail was instructed to guard Kinnear's home but was removed on 19 December 2019.[9]
As of January 2022 the IPID had lodged two criminal charges against National Police CommissionerKhehla Sitolefor refusing to cooperate with its investigation into Kinnear's murder.[10]
In April 2022 one suspect, Fareez Smith (a self confessed member of theJunky Funky Kidsstreet gang), pleaded guilty of attempting to assassinate Kinnear at his home in November 2019. Smith's attempted assassination of Kinnear failed when thegrenadehe was given to implement the assassination with fell out of his pocket in view of police officers stationed outside Kinnear's home. Smith was convicted of attempted murder, illegal possession of explosives, and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.[11]
External links
[edit]Mail & Guardian list of Charl Kinnear articles
References
[edit]- ^"PICS | Murder of top cop Charl Kinnear captured in chilling CCTV footage".News24.Retrieved31 January2022.
- ^abcHyman, Aron (18 September 2020)."Anti-gang unit section commander Charl Kinnear shot dead in Cape Town".TimesLIVE.Retrieved31 January2022.
- ^NOMBEMBE, PHILANI (25 September 2020)."Ex-rugby player Zane Killian charged with murder of cop Charl Kinnear".TimesLIVE.Retrieved31 January2022.
- ^Cruywagen, Vincent (25 September 2020)."Age of the Assassin: Newsflash: Kinnear suspect, Zane Killian, believed to have played a key role in assassination plot, charged with murder".Daily Maverick.Retrieved31 January2022.
- ^abCruywagen, Vincent (20 September 2020)."Age of the Assassin: Who tracked top detective Kinnear's phone up to the minute he was gunned down?".Daily Maverick.Retrieved31 January2022.
- ^abThamm, Marianne (12 November 2021)."IPID REPORT ON POLICE ANALYSIS: SAPS threw Charl Kinnear to the wolves".Daily Maverick.Retrieved1 February2022.
- ^Evans, Jenni."Two more accused added to Charl Kinnear murder case".News24.Retrieved1 February2022.
- ^Cruywagen, Vincent (25 March 2021)."AGE OF THE ASSASSIN: Charl Kinnear: Phone recordings reveal how hand grenade incident was plotted and executed".Daily Maverick.Retrieved3 February2022.
- ^abCruywagen, Vincent (2 June 2021)."AGE OF THE ASSASSIN: Police security withdrawn from home of slain detective Charl Kinnear's widow".Daily Maverick.Retrieved3 February2022.
- ^Thamm, Marianne (30 January 2022)."SAPS in Crisis: Game on: Ipid lays second criminal charge against National Police Commissioner Sitole".Daily Maverick.Retrieved1 February2022.
- ^Cruywagen, Vincent (19 April 2022)."AGE OF THE ASSASSIN: Suspect takes plea deal and admits to grenade attempt on life of murdered cop Charl Kinnear".Daily Maverick.Retrieved23 April2022.