Bouncer back in court
2003-09-23 19:18
Johanesburg - Convicted kidnapper and one-time bouncer Gary Beuthin was back in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Tuesday in connection with charges against him dating to 1990 and 1991.
Beuthin is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for a 1993 kidnapping and assault conviction.
He is standing trial on a charge of attempted murder, two of aggravated assault, one of common assault and one of escaping from lawful custody.
The charges relate to a series of incidents, including one in Yeoville where Beuthin allegedly beat up the then-chairman of the Demon Bros motorcycle club, Thomas Hall.
Hall testified about the incident some seven years ago.
Beuthin now wants him and others recalled for further cross-examination. Efforts are under way to have them traced, a Sapa correspondent reported.
Beuthin's trial has been substantially delayed by him undergoing medical treatment for a bone disease and the death - and subsequent loss of court records - of the court stenographer in a bus accident.
The court record has since been reconstructed.
Beuthin also escaped from police custody early in his trial and disappeared. It was some time before he was recaptured.
- SAPA