Coffin assault duo found guilty

WILLEM Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson, the two men arrested for allegedly assaulting farmworker Victor Mlotshwa and shoving him into a coffin, were yesterday found guilty on charges that included attempted murder in the high court in Middelburg.

Judge Sheila Mphahlele handed down the judgment in a packed courtroom.

“The behaviour of the accused persons showed that they intended to kill the complainant,” said Mphahlele.

“The other interesting part is that the accused failed to explain the presence of a knobkerrie at the ditch (the scene of the incident). The video showed that the accused were intent on closing the lid of the coffin but the complainant resisted. It must also be noted that the ditch is not only in the secluded area, but is deep.”

Mphahlele said the video also showed that Mlotshwa was assaulted during the incident. She accepted the testimony delivered by Mlotshwa’s mother, Lonea Mlotshwa, about the incident and the nature of his injuries.

Oosthuizen and Jackson were arrested late last year. The incident was captured on a video that went viral on social and other media platforms.

Mphahlele acquitted Oosthuizen on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. She found both men guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm for assaulting Mlotshwa and another farmworker, Dalton Sithole, kidnapping Mlotshwa, attempted murder on Mlotshwa and intimidating Mlotshwa. She found Jackson guilty on a charge of obstructing the course of justice.

Oosthuizen was defended by advocate Wayne Gibbs while Jackson was represented by advocate Org Basson. People who testified for the State included Jackson’s former employer, Johannes de Beer.

Dozens of people, including members of the ANC, the DA and the EFF, sang and danced outside the court yesterday.

Oosthuizen and Jackson will remain out on bail until their sentencing on October 23.

The State argued the men might be tempted to flee before sentencing and that their lives may be in danger should their bail of R1 000 not be revoked.

But Mphahlele said the men had attended court regularly and on time during the trial.