Hunter charged with murder of farmworker

A HUNTER accused of killing a farm worker in Limpopo had a small black Bible by his side during his first appearance at the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Stephan Hepburn, 39, from Pretoria, was charged with murder after he allegedly mistook a 23-year-old farm worker for a warthog and shot him on Saturday evening.

According to provincial police, Hepburn was in the company of a female hunter on the Meisiesvlei Farm in Tuinplaas, outside Modimolle when he heard some movements in the bushes and fired a shot.

The worker, who apparently worked at one of the neighbouring farms, died on the scene.

Hepburn reported the incident to police on the same evening after realising that he had shot a human being. Yesterday, Hepburn who was wearing a casual T-shirt, sat quietly during court proceedings.

Some people sitting in the public gallery kept taunting Hepburn, saying they would invade the farm where the incident happened.

The prosecution asked for a sevenday postponement on the basis that the investigating officer needed time to confirm Hepburn’s physical address and other details.

However, Hepburn’s lawyer, advocate Vernon Strauss, opposed the application to postpone the bail hearing until a later date, saying it would amount to his client’s constitutional rights being trampled upon.

Strauss argued that a postponement would amount to a malicious delay.

He said Hepburn’s home in Pretoria had been stormed by 14 armed police officers on Sunday night, despite the fact he reported the matter to police on Saturday evening, and was told to go home.

Strauss further told the court he discovered that Hepburn’s fingerprints had not been taken at about 10am yesterday, even though he was taken into custody on Sunday night.

Strauss said he was in possession of all the necessary documentation proving Hepburn’s residence and employment.

The prosecutor argued that the investigating officer only got a chance to speak to Hepburn yesterday and would need more time to confirm his details.

The presiding magistrate, however, said she could not grant a sevenday postponement as requested by the state. The case was postponed to Thursday.

Some members of political parties and civil organisations in party Tshirts attended court yesterday.

Outside court, a coordinator for the South African National Civic Organisation in the area, Strike Vukela, said they would mobilise the community to demonstrate outside court. —