Lawyer Nico Du Plessis was assaulted and beaten outside the
Tonga Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga, South Africa on January 21, for defending
suspected child killer. The lawyer said he dreads returning to court
this coming
Wednesday.
"I was really scared, I thought I was going to die especially when they mentioned that I would be killed. I
sustained various injuries. I went to the doctor who examined me and
gave me a J88 form. It shows marks around my neck where I was strangled
with my tie, I have bruises and injuries due to being kicked all over my
body,” said Du Plessis.
He explained that the crowd was angry
with him because he was representing two men charged with the murder of a
3-year-old girl, whose body has never been found.
"I was attacked
because I represented two accused in court and I wanted to apply for
bail for them. I don’t feel safe anymore. However, I will have to ask
the police to secure the place so that I can proceed with the case.
The
case involved the kidnapping and possible murder of the girl on
November 29 last year. The
accused, Luis Sithole, Sfiso Mazibe, Themba Myambo and Jabulani Ndlovu
have been charged with murder, despite the lack of a body. Du Plessis is
representing Myambo and Ndlovu. He said he will take legal action
against his attackers.
"I am busy opening a case in Nelspruit. I will submit my statement this week to the police."
He said the Director of Public Prosecutions had refused to move the case to a safer venue.
Meanwhile,
Tonga police spokesperson Lieutenant Mzwandile Nyambi says police will
be at the court to make sure there isn't another attack on Du Plessis
"We will deploy more police in court to make sure that the incident
doesn’t happen again. We urge residents not to take the law into their
own hands," he said.
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