Tears as judge denies coffin attackers bail

IT was an emotional sight as one of the wives of the two farm workers convicted of trying to kill Victor Mlotshwa wept silently in the court gallery following her husband’s failed bail bid in the Middelburg High Court yesterday.

Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen were trying to get bail pending the outcome of their petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal, where they want to challenge their conviction and sentence.

Delivering her judgment‚ Judge Segopotje Mphahlele said the two had failed to raise any new evidence since the last time they appeared before her.

“I am still of the view that there are no reasonable prospects for this appeal‚” Mphahlele said.

Outside court‚ Mlotshwa described the process of coming to see his attackers as emotionally taxing.

However, he will be pushing forward with his civil claim against the men. He plans to sue them for R400 000 for emotional trauma and humiliation.

Jackson and Oosthuizen have been behind bars for a little more than a month after they were found guilty on a string of charges, including kidnapping‚ assault and the attempted murder of Mlotshwa.

The men were arrested after a video they took of themselves forcing Mlotshwa into a coffin as he begged for his life went viral.

They threatened to put a snake in the coffin and burn Mlotshwa alive.

During the trial‚ the men said they had been trying to scare Mlotshwa.

They claimed they had caught him in possession of stolen cables and Mlotshwa had threatened to burn their crops and harm their families should they take him to the police.

Mlotshwa denied stealing or making threats and said the men had attacked him suddenly as he waited to hitchhike to town.