The Jukebox

A security branch police officer who claims to have witnessed Ahmed Timol commit suicide has been accused of tailoring his evidence under cross-examination.

The former sergeant, Jan Roderigues is testifying at the inquest into Timols 1971 death in police custody.

READ: Apartheid security cop at Ahmed Timol inquest claims little recollection

Timol, an anti-apartheid activist, died after falling from the 10th floor of John Vorster square.

Eyewitness News reporter Barry Bateman has more on the developments in the case.

Rodrigues describes how he was an admin clerk in 1971 and arrived at John Vorster Square to deliver two salary police officer's cheques and another sealed envelope, according to Bateman.

Then the two officers asked Rodrigues to remain in the office while they went to investigate the new arrests further.

Timol asked him if he could go to the bathroom, he says at this point when they both stood up it was in a quick move that Timol turned around and he went towards the window...

— Barry Bateman, EWN reporter

He is alleging that senior police officers put pressure on him to include in his affidavit at the time false statements...

— Barry Bateman, EWN reporter

Bateman says that Judge Billy Mothle questioning him about this, asking him why he had waited 40 years to come up with this version.

The National Prosecution Authority's has questioned Roderigues' latest version of events.

#TimolInquest Pretorius says he will argue that Roderigues claim he could not reach Timol is biggest improbability of his version. BB

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 1, 2017

#TimolInquest Pretorius points out that Roderigues claiming he dived is now new evidence - a fifth version. BB

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 1, 2017

#TimolInquest Roderigues referred to death as an accident.
Pretorius: why refer to suicide - deliberate action - as an accident? BB

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 1, 2017

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