A policeman reportedly shot his wife and her brother in a divorce courtroom on Monday, during a tea break in legal proceedings.
The 32-year-old policeman reportedly turned the gun on himself, but survived the incident which occurred in South Africa´s southeastern port city of Durban on the eighth floor of the regional magistrate court building as the court heard the annulment case between the couple.
“There was a divorce matter between the deceased and the suspect. At 11:00, the court adjourned and just before it started again at about 11:30 that’s when the suspect allegedly fired shots towards his ex-wife and her brother,” said police spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka Mbele.
“He tried to commit suicide and has been taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition. He is under police guard in hospital. For now he is going to be charged for double murder,” said Mbele.
Mbele who confirmed that the suspect was an off-duty police officer. According to local reports, the policeman who shot his wife and her brother had tried talking to them in the public gallery of the courtroom. South Africa´s TimesLive reported that the visibly shaken court staff, including clerks and interpreters, were escorted from the building.
