‘Drunk drivers should be jailed’
Group wants tougher treatment for perpetrators
ACIVIL organisation is advocating for automatic jail time and harsher penalties for drunk drivers after a 19-yearold Swedish volunteer, Aksel Otterbeck, was killed in a road accident while walking home in Table View.
Yesterday, supporters of SA Against Drunk Driving (Sadd) held a demonstration on the steps of the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court where a 28-year-old Darryl Futter was appearing on a charge of culpable homicide.
Futter is accused of crashing into Otterbeck and six other people on the night of December 14, 2016. It is alleged he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Otterbeck died at the scene, while four others were taken to hospital and one escaped unharmed.
Futter appeared briefly in court 16, but the case was remanded for a Regional Court date, set for July 27.
Otterbeck had been in the country for the holidays for three months. He died five days before he was due to return home.
While in the country he had been volunteering at the South African Volunteer Experiences (Save) Foundation. He was involved in educational programmes at a Dunoon school.
Sadd founder Caro Smit said the South African justice system needed to impose harsher sentences and penalties on drunk drivers.
“Victims have fewer rights while the accused have all the rights in the world. We are calling for automatic jail time if you have killed someone – and harsher penalties.
“In Sweden if someone kills a person, his or her licence is suspended and they automatically go to jail; why can’t South Africa do the same?” asked Smit.
Smit said if greater fines were imposed, the money could be used to fund crash scene investigations.
“There is too little alcohol blitz testing on the roads, cases are often thrown out of court because administrative forms are done incorrectly,” she said.
Save Foundation manager Gail Strauss said she recently went to visit Otterbeck’s family.
“Aksel always had a smile. He wanted to become a scientist. He loved children and was very clever and humble.
“This incident has left staff at the organisation traumatised. We want harsher penalties and longer jail time for the perpetrator,” she said. –
“VICTIMS HAVE FEWER RIGHTS ... WE ARE CALLING FOR AUTOMATIC JAIL TIME IF YOU HAVE KILLED SOMEONE – AND HARSHER PENALTIES.”