Family of alleged cop killer, Craig De Lilly, say they hope for fair process in his case

CAPE TOWN - The family of alleged cop killer, Craig De Lilly, said it's hoping for a just and fair process in his case.

De Lilly is accused of shooting on-duty traffic officer Walton van Rooyen to death in March 2020 in Kensington.

De Lilly, a taxi driver, was then arrested, but charges were provisionally withdrawn a month later.

READ: Family of slain traffic officer Walton van Rooyen pleads with court to deny his alleged killer bail

He's now been re-arrested after new information emerged and has appeared in court to face murder charges.

Forty-one-year-old De Lilly, was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1999 while still a minor for attempted rape, kidnapping and robbery.

However, the accused's aunts, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said their nephew was not the monster that he's portrayed to be.

"He was sentenced not to 20-odd years, but he was sentenced to 12 years. He did 10 years, and he came out, and his mom sent him back to finish his other two years. Then he came out and was never with a gang."

They added that while they have empathy for the deceased family, they do believe that the accused is being treated unfairly.

"We feel for that wife, we feel for those kids. We have kids ourselves, but don't do this a second time around to Craig De Lilly, we are not going to allow it. We cannot give an apology; we feel it for the deceased family, but we cannot give an apology for something our kid did not do."