Night out turns into nightmare

2003-09-22 23:51

Johan Rheeder

Cape Town - A fun evening at a nightclub turned into a nightmare for two boys when more than 15 men attacked them with baseball bats, sticks and steel pipes.

Arno Brand, 18, and Erick Wright, 18, both pupils of Bellville Technical High School, were assaulted when they stopped at a petrol station about 23:00 on Friday night.

Wright was standing next to the car, while Brand went to buy cold drinks when a car drove into the petrol station at high speed, nearly knocking Wright over.

Wright's father, Erick Wright sen, said an argument broke out between the two boys and three passengers of the car - two men and a women.

Once the argument was solved, the car left and the boys remained behind to talk to friends.

But when the boys wanted to leave, three cars with about 15 men between the ages of 20 and 30, arrived. The men allegedly attacked the boys with a variety of objects.

Petrus Brand, Arno's father, said his son's vertebrae were damaged. Some of the men apparently jumped on his back.

"He cannot walk properly because he was kicked in the back and they stepped on him."

Wright sen said his son was tied to a pole with a belt after he was beaten unconscious.

"The men tied him to the pole and then cracked his jaw and nose with a steel pipe."

Brand confirmed that the petrol station videotaped the attack.

Wright sen said both boys were admitted to the high care unit of N1 City Hospital.

They were discharged on Monday.

He said they filed a charge of attempted murder against the men.

"I believe we have a very strong case and are also considering suing the men for financial compensation."

- Die Burger