South African police jailed 15 years for murdering Mozambican taxi driver

Eight former South African policemen have been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of a Mozambican taxi driver.

The driver, Mido Macia was killed in 2013 when officers tied him to the back of a police van by his arms before driving off.

He was found in a pool of blood in police custody.

Judge Bert Bam called the killing "barbaric" but acknowledged that it was not premeditated.

Sentencing the men, aged between 25 and 56, Mr Bam said: "The continuous conduct of the accused concerning the injuries on the deceased was barbaric and totally inexplicable.
"What made their conduct more reprehensible was their cowardly attack in the cell on a defenceless and already seriously injured man."

Police pulled over 27-year-old Mr Macia in February 2013 after he allegedly parked a vehicle illegally in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg.

Following a struggle, they overpowered the driver before handcuffing him to the back of a vehicle.

He was later assaulted in his cell and died from head injuries and internal bleeding.

The incident was filmed by a witness and caused outrage among rights groups.

Source: BBC