The civil trial into the death of former KwaZulu-Natal rugby player Lindani Myeni began on Monday in Honolulu, over three years after he was fatally shot by police in the US state of Hawaii.
Myeni, 29, originally from Empangeni, was unarmed when he was shot four times during a confrontation with police officers in April 2021.
At the time, officers claimed they were responding to a 911 call reporting a suspected burglary.
Wrongful death lawsuit
Myeni’s widow, Lindsay Myeni, an American citizen, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu, alleging that police officers failed to identify themselves and that their actions were racially motivated.
Despite public pressure, prosecutors declined to charge the three officers involved, citing that their use of deadly force was justified.
The trial proceeds after the Honolulu City Council opted not to vote on a proposed $1.4 million (R26 million) settlement, following objections from local law enforcement.
According to local outlet Honolulu Civil Beat, the council’s decision was delayed after Honolulu police officers expressed strong opposition to the payout.
The case has drawn attention both in the US and South Africa, reigniting debates around racial profiling, police accountability, and justice for victims of police violence.
Myeni was a father of two and had settled in Hawaii with his family before the fatal incident.
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