Daily Sun (September 9 2013) - A KNIFE-WIELDING thug tried to rob a house . . . , But he was caught red-handed and beaten to death by community members. AND WHEN THE TENANT STAYING AT THE HOUSE TRIED TO REPORT THE ROBBERY, HE WAS ARRESTED FOR MURDERING THE THUG!
Now residents are angry that cops have bust the man who they say is a victim of crime. An angry resident, who refused to be named, said: "The criminal broke into his house and stole his belongings. The thug had a knife and he was going to stab the home-owner so he had to protect himself. Police were unfair. He did nothing wrong."
The 37-year-old robbery victim from Zondi, Soweto, left his house early on Thursday morn- -ing to take children from the neighbourhood to school.
When he came back, he found a thug in his bedroom. All his valuables, including his plasma TV were already stacked outside the window. A life and death struggle started when the thug pulled out a knife and attacked the home owner and angry neighbours heard the commotion and came running to assist.
By the time the cops and the ambulance arrived the badly beaten thief, about 30 years of age, was lying in a pool of his own blood. He was rushed to Chris Hani-Baragwanath hospital but died before he got there.
Later the same day the 36 year old home owner who had been robbed went to the Jabulani cop shop to open a case of housebreaking but was busted for murder instead.
"What if the thief had killed him?" asked a community member.
"Many people's homes have been broken into. Maybe this is the same guy who was targeting the area."
A tenant who is renting a room where the incident happened said his room was also broken into and the suspect was never caught. "I believe that this criminal has been watching our neighbour and he knew the movements of the people. I still can't believe they arrested the victim."
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela confirmed that there was an incident where a 30 year old suspect was beaten by the community.
Makhubela said the suspect died on his way to the hospital and a case of murder was opened.
He confirmed the man who lives on that property where the robbery had taken place had been arrested.
"We are hoping to arrest more people," he said.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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