Murder: Brothers plead innocent
2008-12-01 16:05
Ramsgate - Two brothers pleaded not guilty in the Ramsgate High Court on Monday to murdering Austrian footballer Peter Burgstaller on a KwaZulu-Natal south coast golf course.
Thokozisi Msani, 26, and Simo Msani, 22, are accused of robbing and shooting Peter Burgstaller, 43, on the Selbourne Golf course on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast in November last year.
Burgstaller was in South Africa and had hoped to meet with Fifa delegates attending the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup.
State prosecutor Dorian Paver told the court the two brothers could receive jail terms of 25 years if convicted of Burgstaller's murder.
Paver said: "The deceased (Burgstaller) was shot on the 12th tee. I will show that the accused were part of a group that brought about the death of the deceased."
He said Burgstaller had been hoping to gain accreditation in a bid to attend the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup.
When Burgstaller was found on the golf course, his cellphone was missing and it is believed that R320 was also stolen.
- SAPA