APPALLING MOMENT DURING VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING AS: Kula’s murder case Politician lets off 3 grenades moved to high court
UKRAINE – This is the appalling moment in a village council meeting in Ukraine.
The man, named as council representative Serhiy Batrin, 54, is seen entering the meeting late and standing by the door during a heated discussion at the session in Keretsk, in the Zakarpattia region.
He is seen taking two grenades from his pocket as he begins talking, appearing irate.
Holding a grenade in each hand, he then asks ‘may I’, before tossing them on the floor close to him and a seated woman council member. Footage catches the distressing moment of the explosion. The man detonated a third grenade, too, according to reports citing law enforcement.
Three blasts were heard. Police said a total of 26 people were injured, six seriously.
‘‘My legs, I can’t walk…my legs are cut,’’ said one victim.
Another said: ‘‘Call the ambulance.’’
A voice says: ‘Pull me out.’
The local politician who ignited the grenades was believed to be among those badly wounded.
Medics resuscitated him after the explosions, according to reports.
The explosion came during an argument over money at the council session.
Batrin is a council representative for the Servant of the People party, founded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He works in the village council’s law and order commission.
Police are seeking to establish a motive for what appeared to be a carefully premeditated act.
He was in ‘eternal opposition’ to the ruling faction on the council, local media reported.
Batrin had expressed his fury over water problems in the village when a large sum was paid to the director of the utility company.
The act is not believed to be related to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
JOHANNESBURG – The Klerksdorp Regional Court on Thursday transferred the murder case of ANC MP Sibusiso Kula to the North West high court, sitting in Klerksdorp, for pretrial conferencing.
The matter will be in court on January 29, 2024.
The State’s senior advocate Benny Kalakgosi provided Kula’s defence attorney with an indictment in order for them to prepare for pretrial where a trial date will be decided.
“Investigations have been completed and the State is ready to proceed with trial,” National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said.
Decision
Kula is out on R50 000 bail after his appeal against the Orkney Magistrates Court’s decision to deny him bail.
Kula’s wife, Jennifer Motlhomi, was found murdered on November 27, 2022, in what seemed to be a robbery.
She was found with a stab wound on her back but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.
The accused told the police that he was not present at his home when the incident occurred. After thorough police investigations, Kula was arrested on January 20 and charged with murder.