The story of Captain Jonathan Morris

EMPATHY OVER INTIMIDATION

- STAFF REPORTER

IN THE shadowy depths of Cape Town, where crime often casts a long shadow over communities, one man emerged not through brute force or intimidation, but through a profound sense of empathy. Captain Jonathan Morris, brilliantly portrayed in Michael Behr’s memoir Confessor Cop, transformed the way confessions were elicited from some of South Africa’s most notorious criminals, boasting a staggering 99% success rate over four decades of dedicated service. This captivating tale unfolds at the intersection of crime and humanity, revealing a detective whose inner struggles mirrored the darkness of the cases he solved.

Morris’s journey began at the age of 19, when he joined the police service in Philippi. Rising through the ranks to become a crucial member of the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit — later known as the Hawks — Morris navigated gruesome cases from the heart-wrenching Sizzlers Massacre to the notorious serial killer Jimmy Maketta. His narrative, woven into the pages of Behr's memoir, offers readers not just a chronological account of high-profile investigations but an intimate, personal insight into the toll such work can exact on an individual.

One of the most gripping moments recounted in the book unveils the intricate psychological dance between Morris and a suspect named Trevor Theys. In a quiet office high above the buzzing city, Theys sits nervously across from Morris, who uses silence as his primary weapon. As Theys asks what evidence exists against him, Morris lists the facts with an unhurried ease, demonstrating his adeptness at coaxing a confession without raising his voice or wielding intimidation. It is a testament to his method — building trust through conversation rather than fear.

Here is an extract from the book: