South Africa: Kinnear Murder Trial State Witness Explains How 'Pinging' Can Track a Cellphone User's Location

14 May 2024
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)
analysis By Vincent Cruywagen

A US citizen whose company designed a system to track cellphones testified in the Western Cape Division of the High Court that the LAD platform could accurately determine a cellphone user's location.

US citizen Larry Hurwitz testified virtually in the Western Cape Division of the High Court on Tuesday, explaining how "pinging" -- tracking the location of cellphones -- works and how accurate it is in determining the location of the person being pinged.

The pinging evidence relates only to former debt collector Zane Kilian. He is accused of pinging the cellphone of murdered Anti-Gang Unit Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear 2,408 times; that of lawyer William Booth 658 times; that of alleged Sexy Boys gang boss Jerome "Donkie" Booysen 193 times; and that of alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield once.

The State contends that the pinging carried out by Kilian on Kinnear played a crucial role in his murder on 18 September 2020 and the pinging of Booth's phone led assailants to his home where they attempted to murder him in April 2020.

Kilian has admitted to pinging Kinnear's cellphone to trace his location and claims he did so at the behest of co-accused Nafiz Modack. Initially, Kilian was the sole accused, but Modack was added to the charge sheet. The pair have also been charged with attempting to murder Booth.

Modack and Kilian, along with 13 co-accused, are...

Read the full story on Daily Maverick.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2024 Daily Maverick. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.