Two gang hitmen from Manenberg have been found guilty of the murder of a state witness just days before he was set to testify against the gang at the Wynberg Regional Court.
After being on trial for more than a year, Conroy Florentino, 28, and Randall Fransch, 27, were found guilty of gunning two men down in Gonubie Street amid a bloody gang war between the Fancy Boys and Americans in February 2018.
On 10 February, friends Abraham Adoons, 27, and Tashreeq Jassiem, 20, were shot and killed when skollies in a silver car fired 18 shots at them.
At the scene Abraham’s sister, Geraldine Adonis, said she was with her brother and his friend at the shop to buy entjies when they came under fire.
During the double murder trial at the Western Cape High Court this year, it was revealed that Abraham was previously shot by the Fancy Boys during a gang turf war which left him on crutches, and that he planned to testify against the skollies at court.
But two days before he was due to take the stand, two hitmen, Florentino and Fransch, were sent to kill him.
HELD: Conroy Florentino
Proud acting Manenberg Police Station commander, Colonel Sanele Zama, says the detective, who cannot be named for safety reasons, had few clues when starting the investigation.
“The lead detective in this case has proven that his detective skills are undoubtedly of sound value and his integrity and expertise are unquestionable.
“The professional investigation proved beyond any doubt that these two males were the ones that pulled the trigger killing the two males on that fateful night in February 2018.”
Last week Judge Justice Ndita found the duo guilty of double murder, the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and two counts under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) relating to their criminal activities for the Fancy Boys gang.
The matter was postponed to 4 February for sentencing and the duo is held at Pollsmoor Prison.
SET: Randall Fransch