Two men were convicted and sentenced in the South Gauteng High Court on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, for the fatal shooting of a police officer attached to the Anti-Gang Unit in Sophiatown.
Leon Breda was handed two life terms, while his brother, Martin Breda, received one life sentence for the murder of 40-year-old Warrant Officer David Morris. The court found the brothers guilty of killing the officer, who was based at the Sophiatown Anti-Gang Unit, during an investigation in the Westbury area.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Warrant Officer Morris was on duty on Sunday, 24 September 2023, probing the murder of Cornly Hein. After visiting the family of the deceased in Westbury, Johannesburg, he was escorted to his vehicle by two family members.
While they were standing outside the residence, an unidentified white Renault Clio carrying four occupants approached the scene. The occupants fired shots at the group, fatally wounding Warrant Officer Morris. Valentino Hein was also struck by gunfire during the attack; he was taken to a hospital for medical treatment and was later discharged. A third individual who was present escaped physical injury but was left severely traumatized by the incident.
The getaway vehicle, a Renault Clio, was discovered hidden in a garage three days later, on 26 September 2023. Subsequent investigations confirmed that the car had been reported stolen in Sunnyside.
Investigators managed to identify the suspects, and warrants for their arrest were authorized. On 15 October 2023, Leon and Martin Breda were taken into custody in Sophiatown on unrelated drug possession charges. While the suspects remained in custody, members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation served them with the murder warrants. The brothers subsequently appeared before the Brixton Magistrate’s Court and the Newlands Magistrate’s Court respectively, before being transferred to the High Court for trial.