Becker to join others in jail

2008-08-11 21:31

Pretoria - The last of the "Waterkloof Four", Christoff Becker, is expected to hand himself in to start his prison sentence on Tuesday, but in the meantime forfeits his bail for not arriving as expected on Monday, State advocate Johan Kruger said.

"He will be here tomorrow (Tuesday). He forfeited his bail of R10 000," Kruger told Sapa.

Earlier, Frikkie du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk and Reinach Tiedt reported to the Pretoria Magistrate's Court to begin their 12-year sentence for murder and assault.

They were convicted of murdering an unknown man and assaulting another in a park in 2001.

Wearing track suits and carrying back packs, they walked out of the court building quietly on Monday, making no comment to the reporters watching from afar.

Maintaining innocence

They got into the police car and, with a blast of a siren, were driven through the streets of Pretoria, to prison.

All four maintained their innocence throughout their lengthy trial and the unsuccessful High Court appeal that followed.

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) last week also turned down their appeal against their convictions and sentences.

Kruger, the State advocate in the case, said they were supposed to have handed themselves in 48 hours after losing their case at the SCA.

Becker was also supposed to be present on Monday, but has until Tuesday to hand himself in or he will be arrested.

Becker applied unsuccessfully on Monday for an extension of his bail, with his lawyer saying he intended challenging the matter in the Constitutional Court.

- SAPA