Durban - A witness to a Durban pub shooting apparently triggered by an argument over the size of penises told the KwaZulu-Natal High Court he was called a "coolie" just before four men were killed.
Nithianandan Ganess testified on Monday that on the night of the killings in 2008, he felt he was not wanted in the Merseyside pub in Umbilo, Durban after one of the patrons insulted him.
"I mentioned that I didn't want to sit in a place where someone called me a coolie."
Brian Steven and his brother Leon, both former police inspectors, are accused of shooting dead Shawn Strydom, Nick Jansen van Rensburg, Rory Menzes and Bruce Edwards on September 10 2008.
At the time of the shooting, police said the argument began when a man made a comment about another patron's genitals at the pub's urinals.
"When I came back from the gents I was accompanied by a man and we were joking and having a good conversation," said Ganess.
Joked with white patrons
He said he passed a table where three white men were sitting and started chatting and joking with them. He could not remember what the conversation was about.
"The fourth guy wasn't happy about me being there [and] he said 'coolie, you can leave now'."
Ganess told Brian Steven what had happened and that he wanted to leave. The former police inspector went to the person who had insulted him.
"I intervened and said I got it wrong because I did not want problems. Brian apologised and went back to his seat.
"Later the gentleman came back to Brian and they decided to leave the pub to sort it out outside."
Knew when he was unwelcome
Ganess said he worked as a marine officer for 18 years where he was the only Indian. He had learnt to immediately know when he was not welcome somewhere.
"I only went to white pubs because I was the only Indian. I learnt to know when I was not wanted. When he called me 'coolie' I knew it was time to leave."
After the shooting Ganess said Brian entered the car he and another man were leaving in, and asked them to drop him off at his aunt's house in Phoenix.
"Accused number one [Brian] was breathing very loudly. I could see sweat from the side of his face."
Found gun in car
After they dropped Brian off, they found a gun in the car.
"Julian [the driver] didn't want the firearm in his car because it was his wife's car and [he] didn't want her to get involved."
Later that night Ganess was arrested. Charges against him were however dropped because of insufficient evidence.
The trial continues.
