Judgement is expected in the High Court sitting in the Middleburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, in the trial of two men accused of assaulting farm worker Victor Mlotshwa and shoving him into a coffin.
Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson are facing charges of kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder and possession of an illegal firearm after allegedly forcing Mlotshwa into a coffin.
Oosthuizen and Jackson were arrested late last year, after a video of the incident went viral on social media and sparked outrage as well as making headlines internationally.
On August 21, while presenting closing arguments, State prosecutor Robert Molokoane told the court that evidence led before the court previously had revealed that Oosthuizen and Jackson had attempted to kill Mlotshwa.
Oosthuizen’s lawyer, Advocate Wayne Gibbs insisted that the accused did not commit attempted murder and that they had no intention to kill Mlotshwa.
He said there was a discrepancy between Mlotshwa’s testimony about the nature of the injuries he sustained in the alleged assault and the testimony of his mother, Lonea Mlotshwa.
– African News Agency (ANA)
