Govender brothers’ murder trial: Police officer’s testimony under scrutiny

Govender brothers, Darren and Ferrel, are accused of killing Shailen Singh. The defence in the murder trial of theGovender brotherschallenged a police officer who was among the first responders at Meridian Park on December 29, 2024, where Durban businessmanShailen Singhwas fatally shot. The defence questioned the officer over commissioning a witness statement in the absence of the deponent and the manner in which the crime scene was secured.

Earlier this week, the police officer, who cannot be named, testified that he and a colleague responded to a report of a shooting at Meridian Park. He told the court that he interviewed an eyewitness who reported seeing a BMW X5 allegedly belonging toFerrel Govenderand a black Ford Ranger speeding away from the scene. The witness also directed the officers to where Singh’s vehicle was parked.

Govender and his younger brother, Darren, are accused of the murder. The officer explained that although his colleague took the witness’s statement, it had not been commissioned. Realising it was late, and that he could not get hold of his colleague, he decided to commission the statement himself.