Former rugby player, Zane Kilian (39), has been charged with the murder of a top cop, Charl Kinnear.
Kilian appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court on Friday – after Kinnear was gunned down near his house in Cape Town last Friday.
Kilian was arrested in Gauteng on Wednesday.
Kinnear (52) was working for the Anti- Gang-Unit in Cape Town – investigating high-profile cases, such as the murder of prominent lawyer Pete Mihalik, underworld boss Nafiz Modack, and eight high-ranking police officers who are accused of colluding with fellow officers at the Central Firearm Registry.
NPA Western Cape spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, has been speaking outside the court.
“Zane Kilian appeared at the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court this morning (Friday). He is facing three charges – murder, a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and a charge of unlawful interception of communication. From March 2020 until 18 September 2020, he unlawfully and intentionally intercepted communication from the cellphone of the late Kinnear. He is returning to court on the 5th October. He will be kept at the police station.”
A large media contigent is present at the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court ahead of the appearance of a 39 year suspect…
Posted by SABC News Western Cape on Friday, 25 September 2020
Hawks spokesperson, Hangwani Mulaudzi, says the motive of the murder is still under investigation and that more arrests are expected.
Kinnear best at his job
Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele on Saturday said Kinnear was the best of the best at his job.
The minister said it appeared that the SAPS had failed the slain cop after withdrawing security at his house in 2019, but an investigation is underway to determine why this had happened.
“It’s not every day where you find the media saying ‘this was the best of the best’. I’ve read the article saying so. Usually, police are lambasted, are forever ugly, are forever doing things that no one appreciates.”
“But, for him (journalist) to say we lost the best of the best, it tells you what kind of a man that we have lost,” said Cele.
On Sunday, NGO Forensics-for-Justice, headed by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan, said they have already received several important leads regarding the murder of Kinnear.
The organisation is offering a R1 million reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
