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South Africa coffin case: White farmers convicted | South Africa coffin case: White farmers convicted |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two white South African farmers who forced a black man into a coffin have been convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping. | Two white South African farmers who forced a black man into a coffin have been convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping. |
Victor Mlotshwa, 27, was beaten and made to get into the coffin by Theo Martins Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen in August 2016. | |
The pair will be sentenced on 23 October. They had denied the charges. | The pair will be sentenced on 23 October. They had denied the charges. |
The case has caused outrage in South Africa and highlighted racial tensions in some farming communities. | The case has caused outrage in South Africa and highlighted racial tensions in some farming communities. |
Africa Live: More on this and other stories | Africa Live: More on this and other stories |
Mr Mlotshwa only reported the matter after footage of the assault emerged on YouTube months later. | Mr Mlotshwa only reported the matter after footage of the assault emerged on YouTube months later. |
His attackers threatened to douse him in petrol and burn him alive. | His attackers threatened to douse him in petrol and burn him alive. |
In a court affidavit, Jackson and Oosthuizen said they did not mean to harm Mr Mlotshwa but merely wanted to "teach him a lesson". | In a court affidavit, Jackson and Oosthuizen said they did not mean to harm Mr Mlotshwa but merely wanted to "teach him a lesson". |
They claimed that Mr Mlotshwa had been trespassing on their land. | They claimed that Mr Mlotshwa had been trespassing on their land. |
He denied this, saying he was taking a short cut to the shops, where he had been sent by his mother. | He denied this, saying he was taking a short cut to the shops, where he had been sent by his mother. |
As Judge Segopotje Mphahlele read out the guilty verdict in Middelburg Magistrates Court on Friday, supporters of the victim burst into songs of celebration. | As Judge Segopotje Mphahlele read out the guilty verdict in Middelburg Magistrates Court on Friday, supporters of the victim burst into songs of celebration. |
"I'm relieved that justice has been served," Mr Mlotshwa told the BBC. | "I'm relieved that justice has been served," Mr Mlotshwa told the BBC. |
Judge Mphahlele told the court she was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that it was clear that the convicted men intended to kill the victim. | Judge Mphahlele told the court she was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that it was clear that the convicted men intended to kill the victim. |
The prosecutor has asked the court to revoke their bail for security reasons. | The prosecutor has asked the court to revoke their bail for security reasons. |