Modack on the stand: Prosecution links alleged gang boss to father's murder

The prosecution in the high-profile trial of alleged underworld gang boss Nafiz Modack on Wednesday started the process of linking him to the murder of Nicholaas Heerschap.

It is the state’s case that Modack is behind the murder of Heerschap, who was the father of a Hawks officer investigating Modack at the time.

A state witness previously testified how one of Modack's co-accused instructed him to murder the Hawks officer, but in a case of mistaken identity, he killed the officer's father instead.

Mistaken Identity
Nicholaas Heerschap was shot dead at his home in Melkbosstrand on the 9th of July in 2019. At the time, Heerschap's son, Nico Heerschap, was investigating Nafiz Modack for commercial crimes.

State Prosecutor Greg Wolmarans on Wednesday started questioning Modack about allegedly plotting the murder. Wolmarans mentioned a previous state witness—a self-confessed gunman who can only be identified as "Mister A"—who testified that it was Modack who hired him to perform the hit.

"The shooting that took the life of his father was a case of mistaken identity, especially when I couple it with Mister A's evidence," Wolmarans stated.

Modack responded: "I cannot confirm or deny that, my Lord."

Modack insists he was not aware Heerschap's son was investigating him at the time of the killing.