Man shot dead in Wynberg court was appearing as a suspect

THE criminal record of the man gunned down inside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court this week has surfaced, raising eyebrows as investigations into his murder continue.

- MAHIRA DUVAL

The shooting on the fourth floor of the building on Tuesday, which houses the Wynberg Regional Court, sent tongues wagging amid initial 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 Dingalomoyo Chimtso, 49, 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 the victim was a person of interest in the murder of slain Junky Funkygang boss Ashley "Essie" Phillips, who was shot outside Brackenfell Police Station earlier this year.

According to a police report, Chimtso had various murder charges brought against him for incidents in the Muizenberg police precinct.