Shoot to kill policy in South Africa is VERY unwise, here's why

The men told reporters afterwards they had been driving in Nji's BMW 1-series when a police car behind them "suddenly" started flashing lights at them.

They admitted not stopping right away.

"Then they just started shooting!" said one of the men.

The men said they didn't have a firearm with them.

Lightfoot denied that police had simply started firing at the suspects.

"My information is that they first shot at police and that the officials shot back."

SHOOT: A friend in the United Kingdom [where even the police don't carry guns] says that there is a debate on television there and the Brits can't understand how South Africans can allow a 'shoot to kill' policy.

clipped from www.news24.com Pretoria - Suspected "hijackers" who were shot, wounded and arrested after a gun battle with police, were released on Monday after the State refused to put the case on the court roll. Fabrice Nji, Anyanga Nebarene and Bonginkosi Sibanyani were due to appear in court on charges of hijacking, attempted murder and reckless or negligent driving. Their lawyer, Peter Jay, said his clients were considering their legal options after they were shot at, held for five days and the case was not placed on the roll. According to him, the case was referred first to the Pretoria Regional Court, but prosecutors said the suspects should go to the Hatfield Community Court for the case of reckless or negligent driving. This case was never placed on the roll and they were released on Monday afternoon.