Man linked to two murders, two rapes, escape
Belfast police are on the hunt for a dangerous murder suspect linked to the murder of two men, and rape of two women.
Petros Mamaru (24), who also goes by the names Piet Mosehla and Petros Mamawaru, escaped from the Belfast holding cells on Saturday shortly after 17:00.
Mamaru escaped alongside Skumbuzo Mthethwa (21) who was arrested for theft, and Lucky Sibuyi (24) who was arrested for armed robbery.
The three men made their escape through the roof of the exercise area of a cell they shared with another detainee, who they bound gagged and left behind.
A torn cell blanket was used to restrain the cell-mate and the bound man was found squirming by police making their cell rounds.
The station commander has already launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape.
Mamaru was awaiting trial for the November 2011 knife murder of a shebeen patron in Laersdrift, as well as for the slaying of a farm worker stoned to death between Dullstroom and Belfast on 30 August this year.
He was positively linked with the shebeen stabbing by DNA.
On 30 August, Mamaru allegedly first attacked the farm worker with a bottle, stabbed him, and then stoned him to death.
He was seen the very next day on the farm Elandskloof where the killing took place, by the deceased’s fellow labourers.
It took the following 14 days to apprehend Mamaru who, fled after on-duty police officers failed to respond to the call.
“The easy escape bears testimony to the incompetence of the police, and perhaps even uniformed member’s involvement with crime. Someone cannot possibly escape through a hole in a roof without the necessary tools,” Mr Ian Cameron, Afriforum’s head of community safety said in a warning alert to the area’s farming community.
Apart from a fresh charge for escape, Mamaru will also stand trial for two rapes committed in the Roossenekal area recently.
Mamaru, who is 24-years old, stands 1,86 metres tall in his socks, and has two missing front teeth, originally hails from Jane Furse.
Police warn that Mamaru is dangerous and should not be confronted. Persons with information on where he might be hiding, should contact sergeant Willie de Waal on 083 331 9591.
