Duo accused of killing Soweto medical doctor appear in court

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The two men accused of killing a medical practitioner in Dobsonville, Soweto made their first appearance at the Roodepoort magistrates’ court on Monday.

Gordon Matwetwe Muningi, 50, and Tebogo Thutlwa, 48, allegedly shot Doctor Michael Isabelle at his practice in Dobsonville on February 26.

This after three men arrived pretending to be seeking medical attention for their friend.

Once inside the consultation room, they allegedly attacked Isabelle and a shootout ensued, where one of the assailants was shot and is said to have later died, National Prosecuting Authority‘s regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed.

According to Mjonondwane they(suspects) then fled the scene using a vehicle belonging to the receptionist.

“The charred remains of the said vehicle were later recovered in Alexandra. The accused were arrested by the Serious and Violent Crimes, Murder and Robbery unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on March 21,” she remarked.

Mjonondwane stated that the pair is charged with two counts of murder, four of robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property, unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.

Gunshots heard at doctor’s consulting room

Meanwhile, on the day of Isabelle’s murder, Sunday World reports that neighbours claimed to have heard gunshots as soon as the men entered the late doctor’s consulting room before coming out and escaped in a getaway vehicle they had stolen.

“The two claim the third suspect died in the car while they were escaping the scene after being shot by the doctor during the robbery.

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“They further informed the police that their accomplice’s body was dumped before they alerted his family about the incident. The suspects later set the stolen vehicle on fire,” police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili reportedly said.

The case was postponed to Tuesday, April 2 for further investigations.