Two suspects believed to have been involved in the murder of Brian Johnson, whose body was found at Witpoortjie Station on 6 August, have been arrested.
This thanks to resident and fireman Robert O’Neill and the dogged detective work of Captain Chris Heyns of the Krugersdorp Police.
According to O’ Neill at approximately 1am on 6 August while he was driving on Albertina Sisulu Road on his way home from work he noticed the two suspects – whom he recognised as an alleged Nigerian drug dealer and his runner – forcing Johnson across the road in the direction of the station. O’Neill stopped, hid behind a wall and saw them assaulting Johnson, but he feared for his life and did not want to get involved. The next morning he went to report the assault at the Krugersdorp Police Station not knowing that he actually witnessed the murder.
“My brother phoned me the same morning and asked me if I wanted to solve a murder. He then told me that the one suspect, who was a long-time acquaintance of my brother, came to his residence the night before with his shirt covered in blood. The suspect admitted to my brother that he murdered a man at the station and even told him that he threw the knife he used in a drain in Hulley Road in Witpoortjie, ” says O’Neill.
O’ Neill the asked his wife who works for the SAPS to confirm whether a murder indeed did take place and after visiting the mortuary and running into the deceased’s ex-wife, she told him that indeed there had been a murder. The brother who now could face charges of defeating the ends of justice also co-operated with the police and told them what he knew.
O’ Neill advised the family of the deceased to ask that the case be handed over to Captain Chris Heyns.
“Captain Heyns is one of the best policemen on the West Rand. He still does the uniform pride. He is determined and fair and I knew that he would be able to help,” says O’ Neill.
Heyns rigorously took statements and questioned people connected to the case. The same day (21 August) that Heyns was put on the case he arrested the suspect who admitted to O’ Neill’s brother.
On Saturday (23 August) O’ Neill, who knew where the Nigerian suspect allegedly was plying his illicit trade, decided to go looking for him at the centre opposite the station. When the suspect saw him he tried to flee but O’Neill caught, cuffed and handed him over to Krugersdorp Police.
“The suspect who was arrested still had the audacity to go to the scene when the police was there and talk to the investigating officers,” says O’Neill proving the behavioural theory that criminals often succumb to returning to the scene of their crime.
Both men will appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court today (25 August) on charges of murder.
I just want to thank both Captain Hynes and Robert for all their help over these last few weeks, it has been a horror story to live through but I am just so glad that we have 2 honest men working on the right end of justice. Both have kept in contact and these horrible men will pay for what they did to my father.
Thank you again from all of us!
We can finally sleep at night.
One thing that does not make sense is,if O’Neill recognized the alleged nigerian drugdealer how did he not recognize the other alleged suspect wich he personally know since he was a child,he also did not call or report the assault immediately,why? Condollenses to the family of the deceased.
Net n Vraag? Mnr O Neill jy is n brandweerman? Jou huis is in vlamme, wag jy tot die huis afbrand en bel eers die volgende oggend die brandweer???. I DONT THINK SO, Waarom wag om polisie te kontak as jy gevrees het vir jou lewe en ook gesien het hoe gruwelik die aanranding is, EK PERSOONLIK SOU DADELIK DIE POLISIE GEKONTAK HET. Hier is een en een nie vir my twee nie,
So baie vrae omtrent die storie?
Mnr O Neill sien die ‘aanranding’….. Sy broer ken die ou…… Mnr O Neill weet waar die drug dealer operate & arresteer hom sommer….
Is hy regtig ‘n brandweerman?
Ek dink nie so nie!
Mnr Oneill jys gn n polisie man of brandweer man di van ons wat jou ken weet wie en wat jy is. Jy en Heyns is kop in een mis en hy is ni n kaptein werd ni want jul dink jul is almagtig. Wens daar is n polisie man wat sy werk kan doen want jy hoort te mif in di tronk jyt n rekord langer as my gewete. Sies dat Heyns n man van gereg so kak werk doen niemand is veilig.
Thank you!
I thought I was the only one that couldn’t believe what I was reading. Mr Oneill a hero – I think NOT! Like the 1 comment below……….people that know you,can tell a whole other story about you & your brother. & Yes, you have so many pending cases against you but nothing seems to EVER happen to you. You seem to get away with everything – just going ahead and doing as you wish. Something tells me that you must have a couple of police friends. But as the saying goes “The wheel turns”
No Mr Oneill, you are a joke!