'Killer' oom freed on appeal

Shakoor Gaffoor and his former co-accused, Riedewan Cedras and Grandall Solomons were found guilty of murder, three counts of illegal possession of firearms, and a count of illegal possession of ammunition. They were convicted and sentenced after a horrific gang hit was caught on camera in May 2020, sparking outrage in Lavender Hill when footage showed a toddler walking into the frame as heartless skollies opened fire at close range on their target. Youngster Achmat Gafoor was killed. During the trial at the Western Cape High Court, it was revealed that Shakoor was the uncle of the deceased. Attorney Bruce Hendricks appealed the court’s sentence, challenging the evidence given by two State witnesses. He argued that the witnesses' testimonies failed to sustain a positive identification of the accused and that their versions were not supported by objective evidence The court heard that the State failed to meet the required standards and could not conclude that Shakoor did, in fact, shoot the deceased. The court ordered that Shakoor’s appeal against his conviction was successful and that the conviction and sentence be set aside. Hendricks told the Daily Voice that: “We agree with the full bench of judges that while a young life was lost, it is satisfying that justice was upheld.”