A South African lawyer was shot dead in court on Monday by a weapon allegedly being presented as evidence.

Addelaid Ferreira Watt, 51, was killed after the gun on display fell and fired a round in her direction in the Ixopo regional court.

According to local reports, the weapon was purported evidence in a home robbery case, police spokesperson Brig. Jay Naicker said in a statement.

“It is alleged that the weapon was brought to court to be entered as evidence in a house robbery case when it accidentally discharged in court,” he said.

Watt was shot in the hip and died that afternoon after being rushed to hospital, the officer explained, adding that no further information could be released during the investigative period.

The incident is being treated by police in Umzimkhulu as a culpable homicide (illegal killing of a person either with or without an intention to kill that may not qualify as murder or manslaughter).

Elaine Zungu, director of public prosecutions in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed Watt’s death on Monday.

“It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing on November 18 of senior state advocate Addelaid Ann Ferreira Watt of the office of the director of public prosecutions, Pietermaritzburg,” Zungu said in a statement.

Source: Read Full Article