'Flasher' beat farmer to a pulp

2008-06-04 22:55

Amanda Roestoff

Randfontein - A young cattle and pig farmer from Randridge smallholdings died in Leratong Hospital on the West Rand after his brain was beaten to a pulp during a fist-fight at a petrol station.

Chris Barkhuizen, 22, and his brother, Coenie, were on their way to fetch lucerne bales in Rustenburg on Saturday evening when they stopped for diesel at the Engen petrol station in Lazar Avenue, Randgate.

"I went into the shop to buy cigarettes and Coenie stayed behind while they were putting in diesel," said Chris.

Chris said that while he was walking to the shop, he saw a young man without a shirt standing in front of the shop's entrance.

The man pulled down his pants and exposed himself.

There was a confrontation between Chris and the exhibitionist, and then the man's friend got out of their bakkie, which did not have number plates, and hit Chris in the left eye with his fist.

Slammed his head against floor

When Coenie came closer to see what was going on, the flasher floored him with a sudden blow.

The man apparently stood wide-legged over Coenie and repeatedly slammed his head against the floor "like an animal".

Chris said Coenie probably lost consciousness during the attack and could not speak afterwards.

The petrol-station staff called EPR Security and police, and Coenie's attacker fled.

The man was stopped minutes later at the Dutch Reformed Church in Lazar Avenue for drunken driving after the security company followed him and called the police.

Coenie was taken by ambulance to the Robinson Private Hospital in Randfontein, but was transferred to Leratong Hospital when the family couldn't pay R20 000 up front for private medical treatment, said Chris.

Coenie died on Sunday at 13:30.

The family laid a murder charge against the exhibitionist, apparently just minutes before he was to have been released on bail for the drunken-driving charge.

The flasher's friend had been in the vehicle with him, but had not been arrested.

- Beeld