Reiger Park Murder Accused Cheslin Collis Claims Police Tortured Him Into Confessing

• Reagan Cheslin Collis, accused number one in the Reiger Park murder case, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court for his formal bail application
• Collis told the court he was at home with friends when the shooting occurred and that CCTV footage would confirm his whereabouts
• The magistrate granted an application to play the CCTV footage as the bail hearing continues for Collis and his two co-accused

GAUTENG — Reagan Cheslin Collis, the first accused in the murder case involving two Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit officers and two civilians in Reiger Park, has alleged that police subjected him to torture in order to obtain a confession.

According to IOL, Collis appeared before the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on 25 August 2026 during his formal bail application. His attorney, Samkele Kuzani, read out an affidavit on his behalf in which he described officers placing a plastic bag over his head while he was handcuffed face-down on the ground. Collis stated that he subsequently retracted the confession extracted under those conditions.

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Collis presents alibi defence

Collis maintained that he intended to plead not guilty to all charges. According to his affidavit, he was at home in the company of friends at the time of the shooting and played no part in the attack. He further claimed that upon hearing the crash, he went outside to assist the victims rather than flee. His legal team argued that CCTV footage from his property would corroborate his account, and the magistrate granted an application to have the footage played in court.

Collis, along with co-accused Jamal Meyer and Elvino Levert Crafford, faces eight counts of murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and additional charges under the Firearms Control Act. The three are being prosecuted under the doctrine of common purpose.

View a post on X about his appearance:

Officers and civilians killed in ambush

The charges relate to the deaths of Anti-Gang Unit constables Thapelo Tlomatsana and Sphiwe Sibeko, as well as civilians Roleen Lessing and Jaydin Margerman. According to police, the officers were ambushed after responding to reports of gunshots in the Reiger Park area. Collis, who has existing criminal matters pending against him, applied for bail during the hearing. The magistrate had not yet ruled on the application at the time of the proceedings, and the bail hearing is set to continue.

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Reiger Park shooting suspect alleges police assault

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the ongoing legal proceedings involving Jamal Meyer, who faces serious charges linked to the Reiger Park shooting. His claims of police assault during the arrest add a layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about law enforcement conduct and the treatment of detainees.

Source: Briefly News