South African Miners Charged With Murder in Police Shooting

Two weeks after thirty-four striking miners were killed when police opened fire, some of their comrades are being charged with the deaths.

The miner's strike went violent, and police in self defense shot into the mob, which had previously killed other officers, and attacked miners that attempted to work.

After the massacre, two hundred and seventy miners were arrested and they now face the charge of murder.

Under South African law, they are being tried under "common purpose", which allows for suspects who were with those who died during an incident with police to be charged for their deaths, no matter who shot who.

At this time, no police are being charged, as the incident is still under investigation.