Durban cop who 'mistakenly' shot and killed son appears in court
A Durban policeman who shot and killed his 12-year-old son after he allegedly mistook him for an intruder wept uncontrollably as he made his first appearance in court.
The incident happened at their Manor Gardens home on Father's Day.
Maxwell Luthuli quietly and calmly walked into the dock in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
When the murder charge against him was being read out, he began sobbing and shaking and cupped his face in his hands.
His attorney told the court the man had been sleeping when he heard shouts for help and saw two people standing near the gate.
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The court heard the 40-year-old had recently been a victim of a robbery and believed his home was being targeted again.
During Sunday's incident, Luthuli is said to have grabbed his service pistol and headed downstairs while calling for those in the house to get down.
His lawyer says he fired towards a window when he saw someone running past, thinking it was a thief. But it was his son.
The State told the court it still needs to decide on the schedule of the bail hearing set for Friday.
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