24 December 2007
Maputo — The spokesperson for the General Command of the Mozambican police, Pedro Cossa, has confirmed that the policemen responsible for the death of dancer and choreographer Augusto Covilas will face charges of first degree murder.
Covilas, who was a member of Mozambique's internationally acclaimed National Song and Dance Company (CNCD), died on the morning of 23 December. He had called on the police to assist him when he believed that prowlers were circling his house and about to raid it. But by the time the police arrived, the thieves had gone.
The two policemen sent to the house, instead of checking who was present, simply opened fire with AK-47 assault rifles through the door onto the veranda, instantly killing Covilas. A security guard was also struck by the hail of police bullets and died later in hospital.
Cited in Monday's issue of the independent newssheet "Mediafax", Cossa said that, although internal police investigations into the killings are still under way, there was no doubt that the two policemen concerned would face both disciplinary proceedings and criminal charges of first degree murder. The men are currently under arrest in the cells of the Maputo City Police Command.
"Nobody gets away with this", said Cossa. "The two policemen must answer for their acts because it is clear that they committed murder".
Cossa said the General Command wants to see the two policemen brought to trial as soon as possible. All the evidence gathered, he added, shows that they acted outside of the law, and without the professionalism that should characterize police behaviour.
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