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"title": "Kinnear suspect, Zane Killian, believed to have played a key role in assassination plot, charged with murder",
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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zane Killian, 39, former player for the Falcons and Griquas, is a debt collector who operated a</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tracking business</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out of Springs. He briefly appeared under heavy police protection in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates' Court on Friday, 25 September. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prosecutor Blaine Lazarus informed the court the accused faced a count of murder, conspiracy to murder and unlawfully intercepting communication. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the charge sheet, Killian unlawfully </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">traced</span> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-24-former-rugby-player-arrested-in-kinnear-investigation-set-to-appear-in-cape-town-court/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear’s phone</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> around 20 March until 18 September 2020, the day Kinnear was assassinated around 3pm outside his house at 10 Gearing Road.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/suspected-39-yr-old-former-rugby-player-arrested-for-charl-kinnear-murder-2/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-725208\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Kinnear-suspectCourt2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" /></a> Zane Killian, a 39-year old suspect appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates' Court in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on September 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear’s phone had been tracked until around 3.25pm – at least 25 minutes after he was killed. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prosecution will argue that this was to ensure that the hit was carried out, as specified by people who are yet to be identified. Had it not been for Killian’s tracking of Kinnear, the officer might have escaped death.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenge for investigators will be to join the dots back to an individual named “Mohamad” who allegedly ordered that Killian trace Kinnear’s device.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maverick Citizen </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has managed to piece together, through interviewing several sources, what occurred on the day Kinnear was assassinated.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 15 minutes before the shooting, a first CCTV camera picked up a person wearing a red and orange colour hoodie jacket and a pair of tracksuit pants, near a corner of Gearing Street, where Kinnear lived.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About three minutes prior to opening fire, the suspect walked casually towards Kinnear’s vehicle before squeezing the trigger, firing point blank at Kinnear’s head.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The residue had left a burn “tattoo” mark on the dead detective’s face.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further CCTV footage from Kinnear’s own cameras also picked up a person wearing a red and orange colour hoodie jacket. The modus operandi of the triggerman indicates he was a trained assassin.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Friday, Killian’s legal representative, Eric Bryer, said that an arrest warrant had been issued for his client on Monday, 20 September. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, arrested him that night in Springs.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/suspected-39-yr-old-former-rugby-player-arrested-for-charl-kinnear-murder/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-725207\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Kinnear-suspectCourt1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" /></a> Eric Bryer, attorney for the 39-year old, Zane Killian who appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate Court in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on September 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The former rugby professional was taken in for questioning at the Hawks offices in Germiston. There he was interrogated for three hours and held at the Midrand police station before being transferred to Cape Town overnight. Bryer indicated he was ready to apply for bail.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Springs, east of Johannesburg, was one of the last places Kinnear visited a week before his assassination. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The detective was in the area to continue his ongoing investigation of alleged underworld boss </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-06-18-saps-drag-in-alleged-underworld-figure-and-10-cops-after-illegal-gun-licence-racket-exposed/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nafiz Modack</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear also investigated eight high-ranking police officers accused of colluding with fellow officers at the Firearm Registry in order to produce firearm licences unlawfully. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear was set to arrest two brigadiers in Gauteng in connection with the gun licence racket.</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/ex-krejcir-lawyer-charged-with-corruption-in-abduction-case-14433711\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bryer,</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a former lawyer for imprisoned Czech crime boss </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-07-24-was-the-krejcir-case-a-stitch-up/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Radovan Krejcir</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, was himself charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice after becoming personally involved in the kidnapping case of one of his clients. In April 2018, Bryer appeared alongside three other people in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, when asked for comment, said: “The State is going to oppose bail. The accused is facing serious charges, and is accused of killing a policeman.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The case has been postponed for further investigation until 5 October and the accused will stay in custody at the Bellville police station. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"name": "Attorney Eric Bryer says at this stage he could not say who all the people Killian pinged were, but he was aware that Booth’s phone was pinged 500 times from March 2020 till September. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zane Killian, 39, former player for the Falcons and Griquas, is a debt collector who operated a</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tracking business</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out of Springs. He briefly appeared under heavy police protection in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates' Court on Friday, 25 September. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prosecutor Blaine Lazarus informed the court the accused faced a count of murder, conspiracy to murder and unlawfully intercepting communication. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the charge sheet, Killian unlawfully </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">traced</span> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-24-former-rugby-player-arrested-in-kinnear-investigation-set-to-appear-in-cape-town-court/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear’s phone</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> around 20 March until 18 September 2020, the day Kinnear was assassinated around 3pm outside his house at 10 Gearing Road.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_725208\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/suspected-39-yr-old-former-rugby-player-arrested-for-charl-kinnear-murder-2/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-725208\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Kinnear-suspectCourt2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" /></a> Zane Killian, a 39-year old suspect appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates' Court in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on September 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear’s phone had been tracked until around 3.25pm – at least 25 minutes after he was killed. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prosecution will argue that this was to ensure that the hit was carried out, as specified by people who are yet to be identified. Had it not been for Killian’s tracking of Kinnear, the officer might have escaped death.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenge for investigators will be to join the dots back to an individual named “Mohamad” who allegedly ordered that Killian trace Kinnear’s device.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maverick Citizen </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has managed to piece together, through interviewing several sources, what occurred on the day Kinnear was assassinated.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 15 minutes before the shooting, a first CCTV camera picked up a person wearing a red and orange colour hoodie jacket and a pair of tracksuit pants, near a corner of Gearing Street, where Kinnear lived.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About three minutes prior to opening fire, the suspect walked casually towards Kinnear’s vehicle before squeezing the trigger, firing point blank at Kinnear’s head.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The residue had left a burn “tattoo” mark on the dead detective’s face.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further CCTV footage from Kinnear’s own cameras also picked up a person wearing a red and orange colour hoodie jacket. The modus operandi of the triggerman indicates he was a trained assassin.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Friday, Killian’s legal representative, Eric Bryer, said that an arrest warrant had been issued for his client on Monday, 20 September. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, arrested him that night in Springs.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_725207\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/suspected-39-yr-old-former-rugby-player-arrested-for-charl-kinnear-murder/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-725207\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Kinnear-suspectCourt1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" /></a> Eric Bryer, attorney for the 39-year old, Zane Killian who appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate Court in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on September 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The former rugby professional was taken in for questioning at the Hawks offices in Germiston. There he was interrogated for three hours and held at the Midrand police station before being transferred to Cape Town overnight. Bryer indicated he was ready to apply for bail.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Springs, east of Johannesburg, was one of the last places Kinnear visited a week before his assassination. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The detective was in the area to continue his ongoing investigation of alleged underworld boss </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-06-18-saps-drag-in-alleged-underworld-figure-and-10-cops-after-illegal-gun-licence-racket-exposed/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nafiz Modack</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear also investigated eight high-ranking police officers accused of colluding with fellow officers at the Firearm Registry in order to produce firearm licences unlawfully. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear was set to arrest two brigadiers in Gauteng in connection with the gun licence racket.</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/ex-krejcir-lawyer-charged-with-corruption-in-abduction-case-14433711\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bryer,</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a former lawyer for imprisoned Czech crime boss </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-07-24-was-the-krejcir-case-a-stitch-up/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Radovan Krejcir</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, was himself charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice after becoming personally involved in the kidnapping case of one of his clients. In April 2018, Bryer appeared alongside three other people in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, when asked for comment, said: “The State is going to oppose bail. The accused is facing serious charges, and is accused of killing a policeman.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The case has been postponed for further investigation until 5 October and the accused will stay in custody at the Bellville police station. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"summary": "The addition of murder to the charge sheet that faces former pro rugby player Zane Killian, arrested in connection with the murder of Anti-Gang Unit section head Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear is an indication that Killian’s role is thought to be central to the assassination plot.\r\n",
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Zane Killian, a 39-year old suspect appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates' Court in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on September 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)
Eric Bryer, attorney for the 39-year old, Zane Killian who appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate Court in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on September 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)