Suspect in South Africa soccer captain’s murder released

South Africa yesterday freed a suspect in the killing of national soccer team captain Senzo Meyiwa due to a lack of evidence, the latest high-profile murder case in which police and prosecutors have struggled to build an air-tight case.

Police arrested Zanokuhle Mbatha late last month after witnesses picked him out in an identity parade, but yesterday magistrate Daniel Thulare said there was not enough evidence to try him.

“Consequently this court orders the immediate release of the accused . . . from detention,” Judge Thulare told a hearing in Boksburg on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Meyiwa (27) was hit by a single gun shot to the chest on October 26th while confronting two intruders at the home of his girlfriend, actor and singer Kelly Khumalo. He had legions of fans in sports-mad South Africa and police have been under huge public and political pressure to find his killers.

His death came soon after a high court judge acquitted Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius of murder after he shot and killed his girlfriend last year, saying the state had only proved a lesser case of culpable homicide.

Prosecutors are appealing that verdict. – (Reuters)