A coloured Cape Town police officer accused of killing his wife and unborn child in 2000 is back working in the police service.
Morne Manuel allegedly shot and killed his wife, Janine, during a heated argument. She was seven months pregnant at the time.
Manuel who put forward a defence of temporary insanity has been cleared by an internal police disciplinary process and is allowed to perform his duties despite the charges still hanging over him.
“He’s still in the police force. This incident had absolutely nothing to do with his duties as a police officer. It was an incident involving his wife or his deceased wife and the police obviously made a decision that he is fit and able to carry out his duties in the police force,” said defence lawyer William Booth.
But Janine’s family thinks differently.
The family is no closer to finding closure and wants to know how the police officer charged with murdering their relative is still allowed to perform his duties.
“There’s no way that somebody can get away with something like that. I do believe that the way I was brought up, an eye for an eye so God is still there somewhere so I’m waiting. I’m just waiting and that is the only thing that makes me come to court,” said the victim’s sister Adeebah Salie.
The case has been marred by over 50 postponements and has again been postponed October 21. – eNCA