This is a follow-up post from a previous post posted in my Photo Blog, go here for that.

I spent most of Tuesday morning in court, no I am not in trouble with the law.
I was subpoended and had appear as a witness to a House breaking theft in February 2009.
I arrived early and sat for the most of the morning while the Proseceuter ran the court, the Judge set aside dates for pleadings and trials. Awaiting trial inmates who looked like “the devil sick of sin”, gaunt and Tik weary faces were drive from Pollsmoor and were kept in a waiting cell until their names were called. Most of them were kids as young as 21, presented themselves before the Judge; where they were either granted Legal Aid Lawyers, dates were set aside for trials and bails were posted.

A slice of life in a court room

Myself and Tyrone were subpoened and we met up and had a chat during the recesses. Tyrone is the one who apprehended the suspect with the stolen goods. Apparently he caught the suspect with a Dvd player running from the crime scene and continued to chase the suspect for quite a distance until he was apprehended and then taken to the Landsdowne Police Station. Tyrone leaves a few blocks from where the crime took place and he is the good Samaritan or hero in this Story.

This is how flawed this whole exercise was:

1. I sat next to the Suspect during the whole process until the case was heard
2. The Prosecutor of the Court was ill informed about the circumstances of the case and did not even know that myself and Tyrone were the subpoened witnesses instead had a Police Officer from the Police Station where the case was opened.
3. No fingerprints were taken on the crime scene, so no substantial evidence,no possible conviction for this suspect.
4. After the case as we walked out, the suspect wanted to have a private chat with Tyrone
5. I did not allow this and the suspect continued to threaten Tyrone advising him that the suspect has friend’s who are murderers.
6. Tyrone was not intimidated by this action and challenged the suspect verbally without getting abusive.

So there you have it, an experience dealing with a Democratic Legal System. The criminal has more rights

1. Legal Aid
2. Human Right
3. Case to be proven beyond a resaonable doubt
4. Witness means nothing

Makes ones wonder why Vigilante action is prevalant in the Townships where People Court takes place and criminals and suspects are Necklaced and beaten to death for their crimes. Crime does not get punished, that’s the message been communicated.