Shot cop and shooter were ‘great friends’

Devastated colleagues said Sergeant Malcolm Goodwin's shooter was a respected lieutenant from the K9 unit.

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Durban - The Durban policeman who died in an accidental shooting was “great friends” with the man who killed him.

Devastated colleagues said Sergeant Malcolm Goodwin’s shooter was a respected lieutenant from the K9 unit and had partnered him on Wednesday for a training exercise at the Pietermaritzburg shooting range.

“That’s why they paired off,” a source said.

Goodwin, a member of the Flying Squad’s collision unit, died after attending a first responders swat refresher course, for the Flying Squad and K9 units.

 Cop shot dead in ‘freak accident’

Sources said the officers were busy with a crime scene re-enactment, with one officer in the role of the criminal and the other the policeman, when the accident happened.

The officers’ guns were meant to be empty and while Goodwin was playing the role of the criminal, his partner took aim and fired, not realising his gun was loaded.

Goodwin was shot in the chest, apparently through the heart, and died in hospital.

Suman Singh, who had worked with Goodwin in the collision unit in 2009, said the policeman was “like a brother” to him.

He was a “wonderful person, with a heart of gold”, he said.

“He was always laughing, always joking and always put a smile on the faces of those around him.”

As for his work ethic, Singh said, he was a “proper policeman”.

“He was meticulous, right down to his handwriting,” he said.

The shooter was said to be devastated.

Another police officer who knew Goodwin said: “I can only imagine what he’s going through, he must be shattered. If something like that happened to me, I don’t know what I would do.” He said working in such high-stress situations, police officers shared a special bond.

“It’s a brotherhood.”

Goodwin’s brother, Mark, posted a message on Facebook to thank the hordes of police officers and the public who had offered their condolences.

“Hi … Thank you all for the sentiments, you all took time to say a word or two and I have taken the time to read each and every post… As I have seen in this post and others, I knew he was popular but did not realise how popular. I thank you all… Thank you!”

Messages of support included:

Ben Bizzell: “I had the privilege of knowing Malcolm for nearly 24yrs. His integrity and intelligence never dulled and I hope his star forever shines as bright as his humour.”

Jeandrê Welgemoed: “Rip searg (sic) you will be missed. The country lost an excellent member, was definitely an honour to know you!!”

Police spokesman, Brigadier Jay Naicker, said the accident happened at about 10am on Wednesday.

“The victim was taken to a local hospital where he passed away while in theatre,” Naicker said.

Mountain Rise police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.

Daily News