Becker held for drunken driving

2005-03-22 22:50

Liela Magnus

Pretoria - The parents of one of the so-called Waterkloof Four, Christoff Becker, had independent blood samples taken after their son was arrested for drunken driving at the weekend.

He was charged in the community court in Hatfield on Tuesday.

Becker was arrested on the corner of Hilda and Prospect streets, after he apparently dropped a friend off at his car.

Becker apparently had been at a 21st birthday party at a restaurant in Hatfield before dropping off his friend.

Police claim Becker failed to stop at a stop street, but he and his friend deny this.

Speaking outside court on Tuesday, Becker claimed cuts and needle marks on his arms showed how a district surgeon tried to take blood samples from him early on Sunday morning.

The inside of his arm was still bruised and a scab had formed on the area, he claimed.

Arrested shortly before 05h00

According to a report by an independent doctor whom the family called in, the person who had drawn blood from Bekker also jabbed the needle at an angle through Becker's skin, causing it to come out further along from the entry point.

This makes it look as if the person who drew blood was not trained, read the report.

Becker was arrested shortly before 05h00 on Sunday morning. Metro police then took him to a district surgeon.

His parents later called in the independent doctor and had further blood-alcohol level tests done.

The case against Becker was postponed on Tuesday, giving him time to appoint a legal advisor.

The State is waiting for the blood-test results.

- Beeld