‘I mistook him for a bush-pig’
HUNTER FACES MURDER CHARGE
A HUNTER accused of murder told a court he was “absolutely convinced” that he was shooting at a bush-pig the night he killed a Limpopo farm worker.
Yesterday, Stephan Hepburn, 39, from Pretoria appeared before the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court after he was charged with the murder of Jan Railwa, 25, on Meisiesvlei Farm in Tuinplaas over a week ago.
Hepburn listened attentively as his lawyer Wilco Botha read out a written affidavit on his behalf during his bail application hearing.
Initial police reports had stated that Hepburn allegedly mistook Railwa for a warthog. However, yesterday Hepburn told the court that he thought Railwa was a crop-damaging bush-pig. Hepburn said he and his wife had been invited to the farm to shoot bush-pigs which troubled maize farmers.
He described how they identified a suitable spot and sat back-to-back in wait for the bush-pigs to arrive.
Hepburn said he then heard noises, adding that from a distance, it appeared as if the movements in the maize field were being made by a large bush-pig. He told the court that he proceeded to shoot.
“I was absolutely convinced that I was firing at a bush-pig,” he stated.
Hepburn said after the shooting, the sounds that followed did not sound like those of a wounded animal but of a human being.
“I was immediately overcome with shock and panic,” he said.
Hepburn said they proceeded to seek help from the farmhouse before going back to the maize field. He said upon closer inspection they realised that he had shot Railwa who was by then lying dead in a black T-shirt and overall pants.
He also told the court that he was an experienced hunter. He pleaded with the court to grant him bail on the basis that he had no intention to hurt or kill anyone, describing what happened as a “tragic incident”.
Investigating officer Captain Richard Boshomane opposed bail giving reasons including that Hepburn would not be safe if released because the community was angered by the incident. He also said Hepburn would interfere with with the investigation after three witnesses refused to give statements amid claims that they are afraid of him. The bail application proceedings are expected to continue today.