Latest news with #GqeberhaMagistrates'Court
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Cash-in-transit ambush weapon linked to Gqeberha gun dealer Karen Webb's business
A revolver used in a deadly cash-in-transit ambush outside a KFC in Sidwell, Gqeberha has allegedly been tied to several firearms reportedly missing from the premises of Gqeberha gun dealer Karen Webb. The weapon forms part of a new murder charge added to her expanding case, which includes allegations of gun smuggling, fraud, and multiple violent crimes. Karen Webb had to wait another day before her formal bail application could begin in the Gqeberha Magistrates' Court after her legal team requested more time to prepare. Meanwhile, new details emerged of the growing number of charges she faces. On Monday, the State brought another murder charge against Webb. It has now emerged that the new murder charge relates to a violent cash-in-transit ambush that took place outside a KFC in Sidwell on Monday morning, 30 December 2024. The guards arrived around 10am at the fast food outlet at the intersection of Commercial Road and Wright Street, in one of the busiest parts of Gqeberha's city centre. Across the road is a bustling taxi rank and several other popular fast food stores, ensuring the area is always a hive of pedestrian activity. The guards arrived as scheduled to collect cash from the KFC, but their duties took a violent turn when they were ambushed by a group of suspected robbers. A shootout ensued. A guard, as well as one of the robbers, was fatally wounded. Police members rushed to the scene, where they quickly apprehended another suspect allegedly hiding in the KFC among staff members. The Hawks quickly took control of the crime scene, where an illegal firearm was recovered. That firearm, a revolver, was eventually linked to a series of firearms that allegedly went missing from Karen Webb's gun dealership. On Monday, this double murder was added to her expansive list of charges, which include another murder and several other counts of theft, fraud, firearms smuggling and providing firearms to people unlicensed to possess them. Webb returned to court on Tuesday, where her formal bail application was set to begin. However, her legal team asked for the matter to be postponed. Her attorney, Peter Daubermann, indicated that he required more time to prepare for the charges added to her case on Monday. Webb has been in custody since her arrest in February 2024, when several firearms belonging to another dealer, but stored at her premises, Webb's Arms, were linked to a series of violent crimes across the country. Webb faces three separate cases before the city's magistrates' court. The first, which court officials branded as the 'main case', relates to the allegations of murder, theft and several firearm-related offences. The second is a theft case in which her ex-husband, Arthur Webb, has accused her of selling his property after their divorce. His property included several household items, including furniture, and it is believed that the case involves about R3-million. The third matter pertains to allegations that Webb was found in possession of a cellphone on two occasions while awaiting trial at the North End prison. All three matters are scheduled to proceed on Wednesday. DM
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Fresh murder charge for Gqeberha gun dealer as State adds to explosive case
As she prepares for another bail hearing, Karen Webb, the firearms dealer at the centre of a growing arms scandal, now faces a second murder charge — this time linked to the 2024 killing of a man in Gqeberha, allegedly involving a firearm missing from her former premises. Just as it seemed things were looking up for a Gqeberha firearms dealer facing a laundry list of criminal charges, the State brought more cases against her when she returned to the city's magistrates' court on Monday, including another murder charge. As Karen Webb is set to bring a new bail application before the Gqeberha Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, investigating officers came to court on Monday with two new dockets to add to her ever-expanding list of charges. The 41-year-old owner of the now defunct Webb's Arms has been in custody since her arrest over a string of firearms-related charges in February 2024. Among the charges against her are theft, fraud, firearm smuggling, providing firearms to persons not licensed to possess them, and murder. The saga began in 2019, when Webb provided storage for another firearms dealer, Chris Evans, after his business, Aquila Arms, collapsed. Evans' stock was kept on the Webb's Arms premises, but in a separate safe from Webb's stock. In 2023, firearms recovered from crime scenes in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Western Cape and Gauteng were linked to Evans' cache — and, crucially, to weapons stored at Webb's premises. Evans later accused Webb of stealing weapons from his safe and selling them illegally. She was later accused of illegally moving her dealer stock when her business closed, to premises in the Western Cape without notifying the police. A charge of murder was also brought against her after a .38-special Smith & Wesson revolver, alleged to be from Evans' missing stock, was linked to the October 2022 death of Andrew Lamont in Kariega. Webb has been in custody at North End prison since February 2024. Her initial bid for bail was dismissed, but succeeded on appeal in the Makhanda High Court in June. She was granted bail of R10,000. However, she remained behind bars as more charges had been brought against her before the appeal. When she returned to court on Monday, the State brought another murder charge against her. While details of the case were not discussed in open court, it is believed that the charges related to the death of a man in Gqeberha in December 2024. The murder weapon was another of Evans's firearms that went missing from Webb's premises. This charge will be added to Webb's ongoing case and will form part of the pending bail proceedings. Another charge of theft was brought against her by her ex-husband, Arthur Webb, accusing her of selling household goods belonging to him, including furniture, after their divorce several years ago. It is unclear at this stage whether this charge will be added to the other charges before the court. The case has caused alarm across the country. Hundreds of firearms once held in storage at Webb's Arms have reportedly ended up at crime scenes. Police say many of the weapons were used in robberies and gang-related shootings, and 400 firearms are still unaccounted for. DM
