Coffin assault trial

Social workers intimidated by coffin assault case


Defence lawyers struggled to find social workers to testify in the case of two farm workers convicted of trying to kill Victor Mlotshwa by placing him in a coffin and threatening to burn him alive.

Speaking in the High Court sitting in Middelburg on Monday‚ Org Basson‚ for Theo Jackson‚ said the social worker they eventually found was the sixth one that they had approached.

“That is the gravity of the situation‚” said Basson‚ adding that it was not easy to be criticised for things they mentioned in court.

Wayne Gibbs‚ for Willem Oosthuizen‚ told the court that the social worker would not testify unless the court was cleared.

“The witness feels intimidated‚” said Gibbs‚ calling on the court to grant them their request.

“This is the only way for us to get the witness to give testimony‚” he said.

At least one of the men in the defence team claimed that they had been intimidated by those attending the court proceedings in the past.

Judge Segopotje Mphahlele ruled that the social worker would testify but her picture cannot be circulated in the media. Only a voice recording may be used. The social worker will be one of three to testify in the sentencing proceedings.
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More at : https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...l-workers-intimidated-by-coffin-assault-case/
 
Coffin assault accused lied about being remorseful‚ says prosecutor

The two men convicted of forcing Victor Mlotshwa into a coffin lied when they said that whilst behind bars pending their bail application‚ they’d had an opportunity to do some introspection and felt remorse for what they had done.

This was according to prosecutor Robert Molokoane‚ who posed questions to a social worker in the High Court sitting in Middelburg on Monday. “When they stood where you are‚ they said they see nothing wrong with what they have done‚” Molokoane put to the social worker‚ who had told the court of the mens’ remorse.

The social worker‚ who may not be named‚ had gone through an extensive report in which she detailed her assessment of the accused. In her recommendation‚ she said it would be up to the court to make a just sentence‚ but she suggested that the pair could be given a suspended sentence and undergo correctional supervision.

She agreed that a fine would allow them to continue to support their families financially – but she admitted that the accused were suitable candidates for imprisonment. She recommended that they be handed short sentences‚ after which they could undergo correctional supervision.

“The court should not destroy the possibility of rehabilitation‚” she said.
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More at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...-lied-about-being-remorseful-says-prosecutor/
 
Coffin assault victim wants 15-year jail sentence for his attackers

Victor Mlotshwa‚ who was filmed begging for his life as he was forced into a coffin in Middelburg‚ Mpumalanga‚ last year‚ wants his attackers to spend at least 15 years behind bars‚ the High Court sitting in Middelburg heard on Friday.

This was according to a social worker who had consulted with Mlotshwa as well as Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson who are convicted of trying to kill him.

The social worker‚ who may not be named‚ said Mlotshwa had informed her that this would be a just sentence for his accused.

Following these criminal proceedings‚ Mlotshwa intended to pursue a civil case against the two.

He wants to claim R400‚000 for the embarrassment he faced after a video of him crying and clapping his hands as he begged for his life to be spared.
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More at : https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...ants-15-year-jail-sentence-for-his-attackers/
 
Coffin assault victim's links to the ANC in the spotlight

The 'coffin assault' victim's close association to the ANC was in the spotlight on Monday‚ as he revealed that the party had paid for his counselling sessions and continued to "take care" of him‚ because he is unemployed.

Testifying in sentencing proceedings against his two attackers‚ Victor Mlotshwa revealed that he had no idea how much the ruling party had paid for his counselling sessions. He could not recall the name of the counsellor or her address.

"This is the same ANC which put a big truck outside to intimidate people?" asked Org Basson‚ lawyer for Theo Jackson‚ one of the accused.

"I do not know about them intimidating people‚" Mlotshwa replied.

"Sadly this matter has been politicised‚" said Wayne Gibbs‚ acting for the other accused‚ Willem Oosthuizen. He added that it was unfortunate that the political party had pulled out all the stops to gain supporters.
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MORE AT: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...lt-victims-links-to-the-anc-in-the-spotlight/
 
Confusing apology‚ 'expressions of remorse' from coffin-assault culprits

"I regret putting him in the coffin and not taking him to the police station‚" Theo Jackson said‚ after taking the stand in the High Court sitting in Middelburg.

He was testifying in his sentencing proceedings . "Remember‚ you gave a version to the court about why you did not take him to the police station? You wanted to teach him a lesson. Now what informs you to change that version?" prosecutor Robert Molokoane asked Jackson.

"I did make mention that this is because of the impact it has had on my family‚" he replied. "And you just feel that way now because you are facing imprisonment?" Molokoane asked.

"That is correct‚" he replied.

Following the somewhat confusing matter of whether or not the pair were remorseful‚ Mlotshwa told the court that he had not yet received an apology from them.
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More at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...ions-of-remorse-from-coffin-assault-culprits/
 
theratman said:
Imagine if this was black on white, the outcry would reach the heavens.
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? You're kidding right?

You mean the blind eye getting turned onto all the black on white farm murders?

Oh yeah it's getting promoted by thousands of BFLF members. Never mind...

Shyte like this barely cause an uproar:

[video=youtube;bD7tW4nrj-Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD7tW4nrj-Y[/video]
 
Court postpones sentencing white farmers in coffin case

Middelburg, South Africa - A court in South Africa has postponed the sentencing of two white farmers found guilty of kidnapping, assault and intent to do grievous bodily harm after they shoved a black man in a coffin and threatened to set him on fire.

Sentencing proceedings were heard at the Middelburg Magistrate's Court on Monday for several hours.

Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson were found guilty of six out of seven charges in August 2017, but the decision was postponed until Friday.

Judge Segopotje Mphahlele said she needed more time.

The courtroom was packed with activists and representatives from some of the major political parties who flocked to witness developments in a case that shocked the country and show support for the victim - Victor Mlothshwa.

Defence lawyers representing the accused men asked the court to exercise leniency, as they alleged that Mlothshwa was riding a wave of public outrage ever since the video of him being assaulted in a coffin went viral in 2016.

Though they argued that the men, who are white farmers, were sorry for the consequences of their actions, the prosecution argued that the accused had shown little remorse.

The final judgment is expected to have far-reaching consequences for race relations in the country.

The incident, which took place in August 2016, caught the country's attention after mobile phone footage went viral.


In the clip, Oosthuizen and Jackson can be seen trying to close the lid of the coffin with their boots as Mlothshwa begged for his life.

The men can be heard hurling abuse and threatening to douse him with petrol and set him on fire.

The incident took place on a farm close to Komati power station in Middelburg, a northeastern town, and spurred national outrage, prompting recollections of the country's racist past.


Outside the court on Monday, around 250 people gathered to sing, dance and show solidarity with Mlothshwa. Holding placards that read "Black Lives Matter", and wearing T-shirts bearing the faces of anti-apartheid icons Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, the protesters said they were demonstrating against abusive, racist behaviour.

Activist Luyanda Magadala, 35, said that white South Africans need to remember that the country has changed. "Our forefathers taught us that we are equal. They cannot treat us like this."

In his judgement on August 25, Judge Mphahlele found the white farmers guilty of kidnapping and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Victor Mlotshwa.

Oosthuizen and Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted murder saying they merely wanted to scare Mlotshwa, who they accused of cable theft.

Mlotshwa denied any wrongdoing and said he was picked up by the two men while taking a shortcut towards Middelburg.

Deep-seated racial inequality persists in South Africa two decades after the end of white-minority apartheid rule.

Activists and political parties packed the courtroom during proceedings, and have pressured for severe sentences for the men.

Aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/...hite-farmers-coffin-case-171023141437693.html
 
They'll get more time than your stock standard savage rapist and murderer
 
Feels bad to think a sick joke can put you in jail for 15 years , I just hope the judge can overlook all this political interference and sentence them for the harm they actually caused and not sentence them for attempted murder etc.
 
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