State withdraws charges against man arrested for 2021 Sydenham mass shooting - EWN

The State has withdrawn charges against a man arrested for the 2021 Sydenham mass shooting, which claimed nine lives.

The man appeared at the Durban Magistrates Court on Friday, where the State announced it was withdrawing the charges against him due to insufficient evidence.

He was nabbed last month during a dramatic showdown, which led to one of his alleged accomplices being killed during a shootout with police.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said, "The suspect was arrested through a warrant of arrest and police will study the court's reasons for withdrawal and work with the prosecution to have the charges reinstated. 

“The arrest of the suspect led to another breakthrough when the investigation uncovered that another suspect, who is believed to be a mastermind and a shooter in the same 2021 Sydenham mass murder, is in prison, serving a sentence on a separate murder case. The requisition process for him to be formally charged is underway and he will be brought to court soon."

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