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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Murder suspect Zane Kilian has admitted to being hired to intercept communications or track cellphones for specific individuals and that he was compensated for his services, but claims he had no idea the information was being used for illegal purposes. He will also reveal who instructed him to carry out “pings” to track cellphones.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the gist of Kilian’s three-page explanation of his not-guilty plea. It was read into the record by his legal representative, advocate Pieter Nel, in the Western Cape High Court on Monday, 11 March.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian and alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack are the main accused in the murder of the Anti-Gang Unit’s Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on 18 September 2020, in front of his home in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1956672\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/6T5A3619-copy.jpg\" alt=\"kilian modack kinnear\" width=\"720\" height=\"380\" /> <em>Zane Kilian (centre) in the Western Cape High Court on 5 May 2023. (Photo: Daily Maverick)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two are also the main suspects in the attempted murder of defence attorney William Booth in Cape Town on 9 April 2020.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-01-nafiz-modack-paid-murder-accused-zane-kilian-almost-r100000-state-alleges/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nafiz Modack paid murder accused Zane Kilian almost R100,000, State alleges</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the State, Kilian’s involvement in the murder of Kinnear and the attempted murder of Booth was that he pinged their phones from the early hours of the day of the incidents and shortly after the shots were fired.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian allegedly pinged </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-26-zane-killian-spent-r1-5-million-on-alleged-phone-pings-to-lawyers-members-of-the-underworld-court-hears/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear’s phone 2,116 times</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> until he was killed, and Booth’s phone 500 times on the day of the attempt on his life.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinging a cellphone provides a signal revealing the phone’s location, which in these cases was allegedly shared with those carrying out the attacks.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1961981\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Zane-Kilian-Vince.jpg\" alt=\"kilian modack kinnear murder\" width=\"720\" height=\"360\" /> <em>Zane Kilian (front second right) sits next to Nafiz Modack (front left) in the dock at the Western Cape High Court. (Photo: Daily Maverick)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modack and Kilian, with 13 other accused, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-01-cops-killed-kinnear-and-i-have-proof-nafiz-modack-tells-high-court/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collectively face 124 charges</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including murder, attempted murder, corruption, gangsterism, extortion, communication interception, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.</span>\r\n<h4><b>‘Not aware’ of murder</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his plea explanation to the two counts, Kilian said: “I was not involved in the offence to murder Kinnear. My only role was to do pinging. I was informed that the reason for the pinging was twofold, being that firstly Modack wanted to avoid Kinnear and other police officers as Modack feared for his life, and secondly to do a vehicle repossession.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I was not aware of the attempted murder of Booth. My only role was to do the pinging. I was not aware of the reason for the pingings and had no interest in a reason for pinging.”</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-11-29-my-lifes-in-danger-says-zane-kilian-pleads-for-bail-in-murder-case/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘My life is in danger,’ claims Zane Kilian as he pleads for bail in murder case</span></a>\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2090932\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0045.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"881\" />\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2090926\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0044.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"931\" />\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2090925\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0043.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"988\" />\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2090927\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0042_f93d58.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"963\" />\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2090922\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0039.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"997\" />\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2090923\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0041.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"923\" /> <em>(Images: Supplied)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian responded to the charge of unlawful communication interception (pinging) by stating that he owned Zane Kilian Tracking and Investigation CC in Gauteng, which provided services such as private investigation, VIP protection and escorting, vehicle recovery and repossession, vehicle tracking, tracing surveillance and phone pings.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian’s lawyer informed the court that his client would make further admissions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When asked by Judge Robert Henney about the admissions, advocate Nel said: “I will </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">admit that he was hired to illegally intercept communication or cellphones (pinging) for specific individuals and was paid for his services, but he had no idea the information was being used to commit illegal activities.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I will also make additional admissions and reveal who instructed him to carry out pings.”</span>\r\n<h4><b>Money flow</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, charges against the main accused’s brother, Yaseen Modack, portray him as the man who managed cash flow and transactions within the Modacks’ alleged criminal enterprise, paying for criminal acts on behalf of Empire Investment Cars.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yaseen is charged with five counts of money laundering, patterns of gang activity, corrupt activities involving public officials, fraud and intimidation. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State claims the enterprise managed illegal operations for the main accused, Nafiz Modack and that it was in operation from December 2017 to January 2021. It also claims that a bank account for Empire Investment was used to conceal Modack’s criminal activities.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-22-kinnear-trial-links-between-alleged-criminal-mastermind-nafiz-modack-and-14-co-accused/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear trial: Links between alleged criminal mastermind Nafiz Modack and 14 co-accused</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hawks investigator Captain Edward du Plessis, part of the task team that probed the assassination of Kinnear and the failed attempt on the life of Booth, said in a September 2021 affidavit that the Empire Investment account was used for criminal activities.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-06-27-another-former-accomplice-of-alleged-gangster-nafiz-modack-convicted-after-striking-plea-deal/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Another former accomplice of alleged gangster Nafiz Modack convicted after striking plea deal</span></a>\r\n<h4><b>Hand grenade attack ‘staged’</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More drama ensued in court on Monday when the plea explanation of Janick Adonis, one of the accused in the attempts to kill Kinnear in November 2019, was read into the record.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adonis, along with co-accused Amaal Jantjies and Fareez Smith – who entered a plea and sentence agreement with the State – are linked to counts of conspiracy to murder Kinnear in November 2019 in a failed hand grenade attack.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The role of Adonis and Jantjies was laid bare in the plea and sentence agreement that Fareez “Mamokkie” Smith made with the State.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smith, a confessed member of the Junky Funky Kids (JFK) gang, admitted involvement in the attempted murder of Kinnear and the illegal possession of an explosive device. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also admitted that he conspired with another JFK member — Janick Adonis — and Amaal Jantjies to murder Kinnear at his home in Bishop Lavis in November 2019.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-04-19-suspect-takes-plea-deal-and-admits-to-grenade-attempt-on-life-of-murdered-cop-charl-kinnear/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suspect takes plea deal and admits to grenade attempt on life of murdered cop Charl Kinnear</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his plea explanation on Monday, Adonis said he disputed all elements of the offences. He claimed the hand grenade incident was a staged attack orchestrated by the police to implicate Modack.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adonis said: “My involvement was basically that General André Lincoln and Kinnear approached me whilst I was in custody in another unrelated case with their plan to execute a staged attack on Kinnear, for which they needed me with my contacts to recruit a suitable person for the staged attack.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major-General Lincoln, the former head of the Western Cape AGU, retired at the end of October 2021.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The reason explained to me by SAPS for this plan of the staged attack would be that this staged attack would create the impression that Nafiz Modack through the attacker in this attack attempted murdering Kinnear, resulting in SAPS to confront Modack,” said Adonis.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He further claimed he was informed that the staged attack would involve throwing a hand grenade at Kinnear’s house.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Adonis, the SAPS supplied a Mills 36 hand grenade for the attack, but when a friend received it, he exchanged it for a similar-looking hand grenade that lacked a firing pin and explosives.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Facing the accused</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monday’s proceedings were emotional for former Hawks Warrant Officer Nico Heerschap, whose father Nicolaas Heerschap, 74, was killed in July 2019 in Melkbosstrand. It was the first time he had come face to face with the suspects accused of murdering his father.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heerschap is a State witness who will be called to testify in this matter.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-04-08-hitman-implicates-modack-directly-in-murder-of-father-of-ex-hawks-officer-nico-heerschap/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hitman implicates Modack directly in murder of the father of ex-Hawks officer Nico Heerschap</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The plot to kill Heerschap’s father is detailed in a plea and sentence agreement filed by confessed hitman Abongile Nqodi, who claimed Modack had ordered the killing.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s alleged that Nico Heerschap, who was investigating Modack at the time, was the intended target.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trial continues on Wednesday. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Murder suspect Zane Kilian has admitted to being hired to intercept communications or track cellphones for specific individuals and that he was compensated for his services, but claims he had no idea the information was being used for illegal purposes. He will also reveal who instructed him to carry out “pings” to track cellphones.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the gist of Kilian’s three-page explanation of his not-guilty plea. It was read into the record by his legal representative, advocate Pieter Nel, in the Western Cape High Court on Monday, 11 March.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian and alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack are the main accused in the murder of the Anti-Gang Unit’s Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear on 18 September 2020, in front of his home in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1956672\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1956672\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/6T5A3619-copy.jpg\" alt=\"kilian modack kinnear\" width=\"720\" height=\"380\" /> <em>Zane Kilian (centre) in the Western Cape High Court on 5 May 2023. (Photo: Daily Maverick)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two are also the main suspects in the attempted murder of defence attorney William Booth in Cape Town on 9 April 2020.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-01-nafiz-modack-paid-murder-accused-zane-kilian-almost-r100000-state-alleges/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nafiz Modack paid murder accused Zane Kilian almost R100,000, State alleges</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the State, Kilian’s involvement in the murder of Kinnear and the attempted murder of Booth was that he pinged their phones from the early hours of the day of the incidents and shortly after the shots were fired.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian allegedly pinged </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-26-zane-killian-spent-r1-5-million-on-alleged-phone-pings-to-lawyers-members-of-the-underworld-court-hears/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear’s phone 2,116 times</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> until he was killed, and Booth’s phone 500 times on the day of the attempt on his life.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinging a cellphone provides a signal revealing the phone’s location, which in these cases was allegedly shared with those carrying out the attacks.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1961981\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1961981\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Zane-Kilian-Vince.jpg\" alt=\"kilian modack kinnear murder\" width=\"720\" height=\"360\" /> <em>Zane Kilian (front second right) sits next to Nafiz Modack (front left) in the dock at the Western Cape High Court. (Photo: Daily Maverick)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modack and Kilian, with 13 other accused, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-01-cops-killed-kinnear-and-i-have-proof-nafiz-modack-tells-high-court/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collectively face 124 charges</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including murder, attempted murder, corruption, gangsterism, extortion, communication interception, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.</span>\r\n<h4><b>‘Not aware’ of murder</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his plea explanation to the two counts, Kilian said: “I was not involved in the offence to murder Kinnear. My only role was to do pinging. I was informed that the reason for the pinging was twofold, being that firstly Modack wanted to avoid Kinnear and other police officers as Modack feared for his life, and secondly to do a vehicle repossession.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I was not aware of the attempted murder of Booth. My only role was to do the pinging. I was not aware of the reason for the pingings and had no interest in a reason for pinging.”</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-11-29-my-lifes-in-danger-says-zane-kilian-pleads-for-bail-in-murder-case/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘My life is in danger,’ claims Zane Kilian as he pleads for bail in murder case</span></a>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2090932\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0045.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"881\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2090926\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0044.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"931\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2090925\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0043.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"988\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2090927\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0042_f93d58.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"963\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2090922\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0039.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"997\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2090923\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2090923\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG-20240311-WA0041.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"923\" /> <em>(Images: Supplied)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian responded to the charge of unlawful communication interception (pinging) by stating that he owned Zane Kilian Tracking and Investigation CC in Gauteng, which provided services such as private investigation, VIP protection and escorting, vehicle recovery and repossession, vehicle tracking, tracing surveillance and phone pings.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kilian’s lawyer informed the court that his client would make further admissions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When asked by Judge Robert Henney about the admissions, advocate Nel said: “I will </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">admit that he was hired to illegally intercept communication or cellphones (pinging) for specific individuals and was paid for his services, but he had no idea the information was being used to commit illegal activities.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I will also make additional admissions and reveal who instructed him to carry out pings.”</span>\r\n<h4><b>Money flow</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, charges against the main accused’s brother, Yaseen Modack, portray him as the man who managed cash flow and transactions within the Modacks’ alleged criminal enterprise, paying for criminal acts on behalf of Empire Investment Cars.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yaseen is charged with five counts of money laundering, patterns of gang activity, corrupt activities involving public officials, fraud and intimidation. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State claims the enterprise managed illegal operations for the main accused, Nafiz Modack and that it was in operation from December 2017 to January 2021. It also claims that a bank account for Empire Investment was used to conceal Modack’s criminal activities.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-22-kinnear-trial-links-between-alleged-criminal-mastermind-nafiz-modack-and-14-co-accused/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinnear trial: Links between alleged criminal mastermind Nafiz Modack and 14 co-accused</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hawks investigator Captain Edward du Plessis, part of the task team that probed the assassination of Kinnear and the failed attempt on the life of Booth, said in a September 2021 affidavit that the Empire Investment account was used for criminal activities.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-06-27-another-former-accomplice-of-alleged-gangster-nafiz-modack-convicted-after-striking-plea-deal/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Another former accomplice of alleged gangster Nafiz Modack convicted after striking plea deal</span></a>\r\n<h4><b>Hand grenade attack ‘staged’</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More drama ensued in court on Monday when the plea explanation of Janick Adonis, one of the accused in the attempts to kill Kinnear in November 2019, was read into the record.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adonis, along with co-accused Amaal Jantjies and Fareez Smith – who entered a plea and sentence agreement with the State – are linked to counts of conspiracy to murder Kinnear in November 2019 in a failed hand grenade attack.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The role of Adonis and Jantjies was laid bare in the plea and sentence agreement that Fareez “Mamokkie” Smith made with the State.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smith, a confessed member of the Junky Funky Kids (JFK) gang, admitted involvement in the attempted murder of Kinnear and the illegal possession of an explosive device. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also admitted that he conspired with another JFK member — Janick Adonis — and Amaal Jantjies to murder Kinnear at his home in Bishop Lavis in November 2019.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-04-19-suspect-takes-plea-deal-and-admits-to-grenade-attempt-on-life-of-murdered-cop-charl-kinnear/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suspect takes plea deal and admits to grenade attempt on life of murdered cop Charl Kinnear</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his plea explanation on Monday, Adonis said he disputed all elements of the offences. He claimed the hand grenade incident was a staged attack orchestrated by the police to implicate Modack.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adonis said: “My involvement was basically that General André Lincoln and Kinnear approached me whilst I was in custody in another unrelated case with their plan to execute a staged attack on Kinnear, for which they needed me with my contacts to recruit a suitable person for the staged attack.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major-General Lincoln, the former head of the Western Cape AGU, retired at the end of October 2021.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The reason explained to me by SAPS for this plan of the staged attack would be that this staged attack would create the impression that Nafiz Modack through the attacker in this attack attempted murdering Kinnear, resulting in SAPS to confront Modack,” said Adonis.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He further claimed he was informed that the staged attack would involve throwing a hand grenade at Kinnear’s house.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Adonis, the SAPS supplied a Mills 36 hand grenade for the attack, but when a friend received it, he exchanged it for a similar-looking hand grenade that lacked a firing pin and explosives.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Facing the accused</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monday’s proceedings were emotional for former Hawks Warrant Officer Nico Heerschap, whose father Nicolaas Heerschap, 74, was killed in July 2019 in Melkbosstrand. It was the first time he had come face to face with the suspects accused of murdering his father.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heerschap is a State witness who will be called to testify in this matter.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-04-08-hitman-implicates-modack-directly-in-murder-of-father-of-ex-hawks-officer-nico-heerschap/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hitman implicates Modack directly in murder of the father of ex-Hawks officer Nico Heerschap</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The plot to kill Heerschap’s father is detailed in a plea and sentence agreement filed by confessed hitman Abongile Nqodi, who claimed Modack had ordered the killing.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s alleged that Nico Heerschap, who was investigating Modack at the time, was the intended target.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trial continues on Wednesday. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Zane Kilian (centre) in the Western Cape High Court on 5 May 2023. (Photo: Daily Maverick)
Zane Kilian (front second right) sits next to Nafiz Modack (front left) in the dock at the Western Cape High Court. (Photo: Daily Maverick)
(Images: Supplied)