Last of Waterkloof 4 in jail

2008-08-12 11:33

Pretoria - The last of the Waterkloof Four, Christoff Becker, was whisked away from the Pretoria Magistrate's Court just before 10:00 on Tuesday and taken to Pretoria Central Prison to start the first day of his 12-year prison sentence.

Making no comment to the media, Becker, 22, wearing a blue tracksuit, climbed into a gold BMW and sat staring straight ahead as the car drove out of the court premises.

Unlike his three 21-year-old co-accused who started their prison sentences on Monday, Becker's short trip to jail was not heralded by blaring sirens.

Becker, Frikkie du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk, and Reinach Tiedt were found guilty in June 2005 of attacking and killing a man in Moreleta park and attacking another on the same evening in Constantia in December 2001.

Throughout their lengthy trial the four maintained their innocence and conviction appeals and applications to argue in higher courts were subsequently turned down.

Bid to have bail extended

Becker, who was in Cape Town, did not appear at the court on Monday and forfeited his R10 000 bail with orders to be at the court on Tuesday morning.

His legal team applied unsuccessfully on Monday for his bail to be extended saying they intended challenging the matter in the Constitutional Court.

Defence has throughout the case argued that the state had not proven reasonable doubt.

In their application for leave to appeal in 2007, they argued that the body of one of the men who was found two days after the assault, was not that of the man they assaulted.

They maintained that the body that was found had no facial injuries, despite evidence that the man they had assaulted had been severely kicked in the face.

They also said there was no blood found on the scene which was inconsistent with a man dying of blood loss and that there were no injuries indicating a beating and kicking.

The four were aged 15 and 16 at the time of the murder and assaults.

- SAPA