Witness ‘too scared’ to testify in suspected gang case
Too scared to take the stand in a trial involving two suspected gang members, a crucial witness for the defence failed to turn up for court yesterday.
The lawyer for one of the accused, advocate Elsabet Theron, told the Gqeberha high court that she would personally contact the witness to try to convince him to testify.
The case was postponed to today for her to do so.
The witness, identified only as “Kev”, was expected to testify on behalf of Morne Featherstone, who testified in his own defence earlier this week.
Featherstone and Charl White — suspected members of the Satan Defenders gang — pleaded not guilty to several charges including murder, attempted murder, contravention of the Prevention of the Organised Crime Act, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The victim in one of the attempted murder charges was a four-month-old baby boy at the time.
It is alleged that on June 8 2018, two men were sitting outside a house in Bibby Street, Bloemendal, when they were approached by Featherstone and White, who allegedly opened fire on them.
The two targets ran for cover into a nearby house, but were allegedly followed inside by Featherstone and White.
A woman, Dillon Barnard, and the four-month-old baby, were inside the house when at least eight shots were fired.
While the woman and one of the initial targets took refuge in a bathroom, Barnard was shot several times.
His bullet-riddled body was found on the floor in a bedroom next to the infant.
Barnard died at the scene and the baby was taken to the West End Clinic for treatment.
After the state closed its case in July, White brought a Section 174 application for his discharge in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, claiming that the state’s case was so weak that he should not be expected to answer to it.
Acting judge Anusha Rawjee dismissed the application.
The trial continues.