SA swimmer in road rage drama
The man accused of attacking South African Olympic swimmer Terence Parkin was quickly identified by social media investigators and, according to a source, he is a no stranger to controversy in his home town.
This comes after video recordings that Parkin managed to film during his alleged assault were circulated on Facebook.
The video, filmed on what appears to be a dashcam, shows Parkin driving, and pulling over.
A man who has also pulled over can be seen confronting him, while Parkin tells the camera he doesn’t know what the man is saying because he’s deaf. The man then starts asking Parkin: “Are you deaf?”
A scuffle can be heard, as the camera image becomes lost.
Later Parkin shows injuries (a bleeding nose) to the camera.
Several other videos were posted on Facebook, some showing the aftermath of the incident.
In one video Parkin shows his injuries to the camera. He appears to have a burst blood vessel in his eye.
It is not clear where or when the incident has occurred.
Social media users responded with outrage while others got to work identifying the alleged culprit through his registration number.
According to a source, who asked to remain anonymous, the attacker is well known in his home town as an “unbearable” neighbour who had been running an illegal function venue business for a number of years.
He apparently purchased the house he is running the business from in 2011, and converted it into a boutique hotel and large function venue, without permission from the municipality.
“In 2013, they received numerous complaints about the venue. Traffic, residents being parked in their own driveways, litter after events, noise until early hours of the morning, weekend after weekend,” said the source.
In 2014, they were ordered to close the venue but they allegedly returned after a short closure and continued hosting venues and parties.
The source told The Citizen the man “had previously also beaten up someone in a road rage incident, following a car accident”.
South African Police Service Heidelburg spokesperson Captain Thivhulawi Tshilate said they had no knowledge of the incident.
Social media users responded with outrage while others got to work identifying the alleged culprit through his registration number.