Boeremag trial delayed
2003-06-09 12:23
Pretoria - The treason trial of 22 alleged members of the rightwing Boeremag organisation was postponed once again in the Pretoria High Court on Monday.
Judge Eben Jordaan postponed the trial until next week Tuesday while talks about legal aid for the accused were set to continue.
The matter has been postponed twice before due to wrangling over legal aid.
At the men's last appearance on May 26, Judge Eben Jordaan granted a postponement after the Legal Aid Board (LAB) undertook to reconsider applications for assistance from the accused.
On Sunday, the board indicated it had appointed one in-house lawyer to represent two of the accused and three lawyers at LAB tariffs to represent another five accused.
However, the board said it had failed to come to an agreement with another 12 accused who indicated they had some funds available but wanted to retain their current legal representatives on the board's account.
The men have been charged with plotting to overthrow the government with the aim of proclaiming a Boer republic.
They face a main charge of high treason and four alternative counts each of terrorism and sabotage.
One count each of murder and attempted murder, and an alternative charge of conspiracy to murder are also listed.
The rest of the 43 charges relate to the illegal possession, manufacture and use of explosives, arms and ammunition.
- SAPA