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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