The women who had arrived from Johannesburg then went to an airport taxi forecourt where the defendants followed them and took their suitcases \u2013 which were never recovered.<\/p>\n
The judge said it became apparent that the group of men “had a particular and determined interest” in the women’s suitcases.<\/p>\n
“Your group followed and confronted the pair (of women) who tried to get a taxi,” Judge Inyundo said.<\/p>\n
“Your group threatened violence to them and took the suitcases from them.”<\/p>\n
CS gas, which is used by police forces worldwide as tear gas to temporarily incapacitate people, was sprayed in the face of one of the women at close range at about 08:03 “causing her to start coughing and choking”, the court heard.<\/p>\n
Passengers leaving and travelling to the airport faced significant disruption, including delays to shuttle buses and trains, when Terminal 3 was locked down after the incident.<\/p>\n
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