On 26 February 2013, Mido Macia, a 27-year old Mozambican immigrant, was murdered by eight police officers in the custody of the South African Police Service. He was dragged by a police vehicle in the township of Daveyton in Gauteng, South Africa, a few hours earlier. A crowd witnessed the dragging incident, one of whom filmed it. Police said Macia had caused a traffic jam and then resisted arrest. On 25 August 2015, eight former police officers were found guilty of Macia's

murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...

in the North Gauteng High Court.

Victim

Emidio Josias "Mido" Macia (c. 1985 – 26 February 2013) was a Mozambican immigrant and taxi driver who was murdered in the custody of the South African Police Service. Mido Macia spent the first ten years of his life in Matola, Mozambique. He came to South Africa seventeen years before his death. He had a wife and child and was also the legal guardian of his late brother's three children. He was described by the chair of the Benoni Taxi Association as "a very humble guy".

Murder

According to the police, Macia had parked illegally, causing a traffic jam, and then resisted arrest. A preliminary post-mortem report released by South Africa's

Independent Police Investigative Directorate The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), formerly the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), is an agency of the South African government responsible for investigating complaints against the South African Police Service and mun ...

indicated that Macia had died in police detention with head injuries and internal bleeding. He had been dragged behind a police van, after having been handcuffed to its rear, for about 500 metres. The eight police officers involved were suspended on 28 February and arrested the following day on suspicion of murder. They were remanded on 12 March. Originally scheduled for court Monday, 4 March 2013, the defendants did not appear, and court was cleared. The hearing was rescheduled pending an identity parade. On 12 March, they were all denied bail, partly for their own protection. At this hearing, it was suggested by the prosecution that Macia had died from being beaten once inside the police station. On 25 August 2015, all eight former police officers were found guilty of

in the North Gauteng High Court. They were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macia, Mido Deaths by person in Africa 2013 in South Africa Deaths in police custody in South Africa Deaths in South Africa Victims of police brutality 1980s births 2013 deaths Killings by law enforcement officers in South Africa Filmed killings by law enforcement 2013 murders in South Africa History of the East Rand February 2013 events in South Africa February 2013 crimes in Africa

Victim

Murder

See also

References