Awaiting trial prisoner shot dead in Mthatha after stabbing cop in escape bid

A 32-year-old awaiting trial prisoner was shot and killed after he tried to escape from Mthatha High Court on Monday afternoon.

According to police spokesperson, Lt Col Mzukisi Fatyela, the incident happened at about 15:45 after seven awaiting trial prisoners appeared before the Mthatha High Court on murder charges, which happened in Mthatha in 2010.

"After the case was remanded for Tuesday, 10 October 2017, the detainees were escorted to the police van to be transported to Wellington prison in Mthatha, one of the prisoners attacked a policeman and started to stab him several times on his upper body," he described.

"The prisoner then proceeded to a second policeman wielding the same knife, attacking the policeman.

"This member fired warning shots in vain and eventually a shot was fired at the attacker, which killed him."

He said that the injured policeman was rushed to hospital with multiple stabbed wounds and is in a stable condition.

"The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) was informed and attended the scene."