Senior NPA advocate dies in court after freak shotgun accident

A senior state advocate for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was killed on Monday when she was shot in court. Addelaid Ferreira-Watt succumbed to her injuries shortly after the freak accident occured in KZN.

How an NPA advocate was gunned down in court

It’s understood that a loaded shotgun, which was being used as evidence in a house robbery case, discharged and clipped the advocate in her hip. We’re still trying to establish how exactly the device was triggered, but no foul play is suspected over the tragic incident.

The courtroom itself is to the south of Ixopo, near the R56 which leads to Pietermaritzburg. Police are now investigating the matter, and sincere condolences have been shared with the family.

Reaction to Addelaide Ferreira-Watt’s death

Former KZN Hawks Chief Johan Booysen has drawn attention to the case, by Tweeting his thoughts on the matter. He is adamant that, regardless of how this happened, someone must be held responsible for Ferreira-Watt’s death:

Whatever the circumstances. Some-one will have to account for the death of Adv Adelaide Ferreira-Watt in Umzimkhulu court yesterday.

— Johan Booysen (@JBooysen3) November 19, 2019

Meanwhile, AfriForum Head of Policy and Action Ernst Roets has described the incident as “absolutely shocking”. It’s likely that the bizarre nature of this case will only fuel the public anger towards such a needless loss of life. The fact that the shotgun was loaded has proved to be incredibly contentious:

This kind of negligence is just unacceptable 😔 I have know Adelaide for many years and am heartbroken 💔 RIP. Hoping for justice 🙏

— Shannon Lawrence (@supershan007) November 19, 2019

NPA court shooting: Who is responsible?

Meanwhile, both court and police officials are being accused of “negligence” for their role in this fiasco. A lack of due dilligence is sure to dominate any forensic analysis of what went wrong.

A gun doesn’t need to be loaded when presented as evidence in any courtroom, and it’s truly heartbreaking that such careless behaviour has ended Ferreira-Watt’s life while she was in the prime of her career.

More to follow