By Johnathan Paoli
Retired South African Police Service (SAPS) operation commander and professional marksman Captain Ashley Houston has questioned the accounts given by police officers involved in the fatal shooting of former tow-truck operator Bevan Loftus and four other men in Durban in 2023, saying the number of shots fired and physical evidence at the scene did not correspond with their statements.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday, Houston, one of the first police officers to arrive at the Berea flat after the April 2023 shooting, said statements by the five officers involved appeared inconsistent with what he observed at the scene.
“Given the size and configuration of the flat, ie the corridor, the kitchen, the lounge and the balcony, I find it highly improbable that the shooting went down as described in the officers’ statements,” Houston said.
Houston said he had extensive experience in firearms training
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