Residents outside the court on Lamberts Bay. (Archive photo: Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)
The three suspects who are accused of attempted murder after they overpowered and brutally assaulted a West Coast farmer earlier this year, still have to wait to hear if they will be released on bail.
Clive Boois (27), Marlon Booysen (25) and Anthony Storm (28) appeared in the Circuit Court in Lamberts Bay this week on charges of aggravated robbery and livestock theft.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape, confirmed when asked that the case against the accused has been postponed until 22 June. The acting station commander will then be subjected to cross-examination.
“The acting station commander testified on Monday. He will be cross-examined later this month because the defense is on leave next Monday. The court at Lamberts Bay only sits on Mondays,” says Ntabazalila.
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Marlon Boysen. (Photo: Provided)
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Clive Boois. (Photo: Provided)
The state claims that Hugo Louw, a farmer and musician and storyteller known as Hugo Droogte, from the Lambertsbaai area, gave Boois and Booysen a ride on the R365 in March when they apparently overtook him.
Louw apparently confronted the two about what was in the plastic bag with them. It turned out to be a sheep that had been slaughtered and packed in the bag.
The men then allegedly attacked Louw with a sharp steel pipe.
Dr. Ivan Meyer, Western Cape MEC for agriculture, economic development and tourism, meanwhile also submitted a letter to the court and asked that the accused be denied bail.
He says the attack on Louw is an act of extreme violence and the accused’s behavior shows a level of brutality that elevates this case above ordinary criminality.
“Furthermore, crimes related to livestock theft are widely recognized as a form of organized and escalating crime in rural areas, and it is often accompanied by violence towards victims.”
Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape MEC for agriculture, during a previous court appearance. (Archive photo: Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)
Meyer says it is important to emphasize that crimes of this nature have consequences that extend far beyond the individual victim. The brutal attack on Louw has already caused widespread distress and concern within the farming community, heightening concerns about the safety of those responsible for food production and the wider implications for food security in the region.
If the accused were released on bail, it would undermine public confidence in the administration of justice and possibly disturb public order and safety within the relevant community, says Meyer in the letter.
“The Western Cape government has identified rural security as a critical strategic priority, and recognizes that effective law enforcement and judicial processes are essential to tackle farm-related crime and livestock theft.”