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Ahmed Timol inquest continues

Pretoria – An inquest into anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol’s death in 1971 while he was in the custody of security branch police, is set to continue in the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday.

Timol's death, on October 27, 1971, was ruled a suicide following an inquest in 1972. However, a private investigation commissioned by his family uncovered new evidence which was presented to the National Prosecuting Authority, and the inquest was reopened.

His loved ones refuse to believe that he jumped from the 10th floor of John Vorster Square (now called Johannesburg Central police station) while security branch police were interrogating him.

Since the inquest began, several witnesses told the court they believe Timol was pushed.

On Wednesday, forensic pathologist Dr Shakeera Holland testified that some of Timol’s wounds appeared to be older than 12 hours, while others were sustained four to five days before the fatal fall.

Holland performed between 4 000 to 5 000 post mortems during her career. She presented her findings to the court after studying Timol's post mortem report and photographs from the scene.

She said Timol sustained several injuries during a physical assault while in police custody. He had an injury to the skull, which might have been caused by a blunt object.

On Tuesday, the former minister in the presidency Essop Pahad told the court Timol would never have committed suicide. Pahad said Islam prohibited suicide and Timol was a Muslim.

On Monday, Stephanie Kemp, 76, an SACP and ANC member, told the inquest that Timol was the 22nd person to die in detention since 1963, without a trial having started.

Most detainees were said to have committed suicide.

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