JOHANNESBURG, October 24 (ANA) – Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) boss Robert McBride is on Tuesday, expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on a charge of contravening provisions of the Children’s Act.
McBride’s 15-year-old daughter claims he beat her and strangled her.
On October 02, McBride made his second appearance in court and the case was postponed to give the State more time to investigate the matter.
McBride has been charged with child abuse, alternatively assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was granted bail of R10,000 in August.
His defence lawyer, Jaco Hamman, attempted to bring an application asking the court to make a final postponement citing that the matter had been regularly delayed. The magistrate turned down the application and said it was premature. He said the delays would be probed at McBride’s next court appearance.
Prosecutor Tefo Mokgoatsane, attributed the delays to outstanding video footage they were still trying to obtain.
The magistrate emphasised McBride’s bail condition that forbids him from making contact with any of the witnesses or contacting them through a third party.
At his last court appearance in August, McBride did not comment on the allegations, but said he wanted the trial to start so he could clear his name.
He denied that he assaulted his daughter on August 19. In a statement released immediately after the incident, he claimed he had merely admonished her.
Also in his defence, Mcbride said he was not surprised by the allegations as they were probably being used by his detractors to settle scores after they had previously failed to remove him as the Ipid head.
But the teen told the media that the alleged assault was not an isolated incident. She claimed it “happened all the time”.
– African News Agency (ANA)
