Johannesburg: A top policeman spent only minutes at the scene of Brett Kebble's murder and left it in the hands of two reservist constables.

According to a police source, Eric Goosen, head of this city's hijackings investigative team, spent 15 minutes at the scene.

He was allegedly asked to call for backup and help secure the "holy ground", but did not, it has emerged. He apparently has not provided an explanation of why he left about 30 minutes after Kebble was shot and why he told two of his vehicles to withdraw.

Junior police had to try to secure the scene using unmarked cars and a tow truck before reinforcements arrived. But the spot where Kebble had been shot was not cordoned off. Seven days later, police returned to search for forensic evidence.

Norman Taioe, Gauteng head of detective services, denied Goosen had abandoned his duty. "He was there the whole time and assisted."

It has also been learned that police failed to secure Kebble's Mercedes-Benz as evidence.

Sources close to the investigation have confirmed it was left at a panelbeater's and washed before being examined for clues.

Police commissioner Jackie Selebi said these claims seemed "incredible", but they were confirmed by independent forensic scientist David Klatzow, called in by Kebble's family to help with the case but since pulled off.

Selebi said he could hardly believe the car would have been let out of police custody.

A potential clue that disappeared was a brownish-red spatter near the top of the bonnet evident in the photographs taken. If this was blood and Kebble's, it could suggest Kebble was outside the car at some point.

Klatzow said photographers had been allowed to wander the scene. Police had picked up cartridges without marking their positions.

With acknowledgements to Alex Eliseev, Chiara Carter and the Cape Times.