Monday, February 1, was the first day of the inquest into Rashaad Staggie's death where allegations were made that the police were also there during the killing and later made inadequate attempts to identify those involved so that they could testify in court.The evidence was submitted yesterday in an affidavit by "Die Burger" editor Ebbe Dommisse. Dommisse is one of the 17 media representatives subpoenaed to testify at the inquest of Staggie, who was killed by a mob in 1996. He said: " It has even been said that certain police officials intentionally withheld information before the incident so that the number of the police officers at the scene would be inadequate to prevent violence . Those police would not have the correct equipment, like cameras and video cameras to be able later to identify anyone involved in criminal activities."

Responding to his subpoena to give evidence, Dommisse said that media representatives were the eyes and ears of the public and needed to maintain their role of independent observers. The council for all 17, Gilbert Marcus, furnished the court with Dommisse's affidavit as it expressed the stand point of all 17. The inquest continues.

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