Afrique murder: Shooter still unidentified

THE SHOOTER who opened fire on Kimberley businessman Jayson Afrique and his wife Micayla outside their home on July 31, 2024, killing Jayson and injuring Micayla, has yet to be positively identified.

The trial of the accused, John-Ross Crossbery Henderson, started in the Northern Cape High Court this week, where he has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, attempting to make a false report to the police, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

Deputy Judge President Mmathebe Violet Phatsoane indicated that if found guilty of the offences, Henderson could face a life sentence.

None of the witnesses who testified this week were able to confirm seeing Henderson at the scene in Black Street, New Park, where Jayson was fatally shot.

Micayla, 30, testified that after visiting her parents on the night of the incident, she and Jayson drove to a convenience store in Heuwelsig.

She disputed the time displayed on the receipt, which indicated that the snacks they bought were purchased at 8:45pm.

“The slip should have reflected that we had visited the filling station earlier that evening. On the way out, I wondered why one or two men who were standing against a bakkie were staring at us. Another vehicle flickered its headlights in Meyer Street as we were driving home.”

She said she noticed a person standing in front of the gate as they approached their townhouse.

“The person was wearing a hoodie and grey pants, with his head bent down. I could not see his face and I initially thought that it was a student. Jayson hooted at him but he did not move, and I told him to reverse the car. 

“My husband and I exchanged glances when we heard the first gunshot. Jayson pushed my head down and shielded me from multiple shots that were fired in quick succession. I phoned my father at 8.41pm and told him to come quickly. While I was crouched down, I heard the person running away.”

Micayla said the car window was shattered by the bullets fired through the passenger side, where she was seated.

“I realised that my husband had been shot but did not know that it was lethal. I thought it could have been a gas gun. A piece of glass cut my cheek. I phoned my father again at 8.43pm to hurry, as my husband was not responding after being shot in the chest. 

“My father was the first to arrive on the scene between 8.44 and 8.45pm. I was panicking, crying, and hyperventilating. My dad told me to stay in the car and asked a neighbour to give me a glass of sugar water through the window. I saw my manager, Jan du Plessis, and I asked why no one was helping or saying anything. Everything was in slow motion.”

Micayla stated that she did not know who owned the cellphone that was later found under the bakkie they were travelling in.

She added that she neither knew the accused nor the mother of his children.

“Jayson never spoke about the accused. He could have known the mother of his children, but there was no interaction between them.”

Micayla said she was not aware of any threats made towards her husband or herself prior to the incident.

Crime scene cordoned off before police arrived 

Dodds Pringle from the Community Policing Forum (CPF) said he secured the crime scene with barrier tape and ensured that no one had access to it.

He added that plastic containers were placed over the cartridges to preserve the evidence.

Videos of the incident were played during the trial, showing a person running down Black Street.

Pringle was unable to identify the person and did not know if the individual was involved in the shooting.

He added that two Volkswagen Polos seen in the area on the footage around the time of the incident were red-flagged on their WhatsApp group.

He said he had not seen the accused at the scene.

Security manager Jan du Plessis also said he had not seen the accused that night and maintained that civilians did not have access to the crime scene.

“I cordoned off the area and safeguarded the cellphone that was found under the bakkie, as well as cartridges, until the police placed the items in an evidence bag. I knew these were crucial pieces of evidence. No one handled or disturbed any of the exhibits. I did not hear the cellphone ringing.”

Du Plessis added that family members of the deceased were only permitted onto the scene after it was processed by the police.

Defence believes crime scene was contaminated

Henderson’s legal representative, Herholdt Robertson, pointed out that the shooting incident could not have occurred at the same time that the couple were supposedly at the convenience store, as was indicated on the till slip.

He questioned the competency of the shooter, noting that Jayson was hit by five bullets while Micayla was not struck.

Robertson said he believed the crime scene could have been contaminated.

“According to my information, the cellphone that was found under the bakkie was moved. My client stated that his cellphone was always left on silent.”

He further argued that civilians who were not police officers and who had placed plastic containers over the cartridges had tampered with evidence.

Robertson also claimed that Henderson had spoken to Micayla’s father, Sherwin Daniels, on the crime scene, although Daniels denied seeing him that evening.

Daniels indicated that he attended to his daughter, who had blood on her face, while Jayson had already died when he arrived on the scene.

The case continues.