A Strandfontein woman accused of orchestrating a gang hit at Wynberg Magistrate's Court has been charged with premeditated murder.
Shireen Matthews, 35, made her much-anticipated first appearance and was charged with the murder of Dingalomoyo Chintso, 49, at the same court the victim was shot dead in cold blood.
The woman who is alleged to be the lover of a Junky Funky gang boss appeared annoyed as she covered her face as cameras and heavily-armed cops swarmed the courtroom.
Nearly a week after the shocking shooting which left court officials reeling in shock it has been revealed that the Strandfontein vrou allegedly ordered the hit on Chintso as he was accused of murdering someone from the Junky Funky Kidz gang.
The brazen shooting on the fourth floor of the building which houses the Wynberg Regional Court sent tongues wagging amid false claims that the victim was a state witness.
At the time of the incident an eye witness reported that a lone gunman wearing a maroon t-shirt and a black beanie approached Chintso and took a firearm out of his sling bag and fired four shots at his head.
Panic spread as people feared the gunman was still roaming the court corridors as sources revealed that the victim was a person of interest in the murder of slain Junky Funky gang boss Ashley "Essie" Phillips who was shot outside Brackenfell Police Station earlier this year.
The NPA also refuted claims that Chintso was a state witness and instead revealed that he was appearing on murder charges.
During court proceedings state prosecutor, Advocate Christiaan de Jongh, said the State would contend that she was guilty of premeditated murder.
De Jongh said: "At this stage, the State will allege that it is a schedule 6 matter in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act as it was premeditated murder.
"The evidence thus far indicates that the accused conspired with members of the Junky Funky Kidz gang. That she had, in retaliation to a murder, in that the deceased in this matter is alleged to have committed against a member of the Junky Funky Kidz.
"In February this year, she had recruited other persons, members of the particular gang, to execute the deceased in this matter."
The case was postponed to 23 April for a bail information hearing.
Deputy provincial police commissioner, Major General Bongani Maqashalala, says cops have since busted a second suspect and are now on the hunt for four remaining suspects.
He says following a preliminary threat assessment of the court building, they had opted to beef up the amount of police officers to avoid another incident.
