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Rage caused by flashing lights
11/09/2002 17:48 - (SA)
Cape Town - Alleged road rage assailant Alberto Saunders' only reason for his baseball attack on two men returning home from an evening out was a flash of headlights from a car behind him, a Cape Town magistrate heard on Wednesday.
Saunder's alleged second victim Mark Walden told the Cape Town
magistrate's court he lost consciousness at home, when he looked into a mirror to see his skull split open, soon after the attack.
Saunders (21) has pleaded not guilty before magistrate Edmund
Patterson to two counts of attempted murder.
The case started on Monday, when the first alleged victim, Marc Combrink, described how Saunders had attacked them with a baseball bat in the early hours of February 2.
On Wednesday, Walden told the court Saunders had had "absolutely no reason" for the attack, other than the fact that Combrink had flashed the headlights of his car at him.
Walden told the court he had "absolutely no recollection" of how he got home after the incident.
"I remember getting home and knocking on the front door. My
mother opened the door, and was shocked to see what I looked like. She thought we had been in a collision, and I told her we had been attacked. My next memory was of red flashing lights, and I recall waking up in hospital.
"Someone said I am being transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital, and a doctor said I had to sign a consent form for surgery," Walden
said.
He said his skull had been split from the forehead to the back
of his head, and he remained in hospital for about a week.
As a result of the incident, he had to visit a neurosurgeon and a psychologist regularly.
Walden said the incident started with Saunders slapping or
punching Combrink in the face through the open driver's window.
As Combrink loosened his seat belt to get out of the car, Walden urged him to "rather leave it", as it was not worth fighting about.
Walden told the court: "Mark got out, and I also got out. The
next thing, I saw Combrink lying in the road - it was quite a
shock.
"I told Saunders there was no need to fight, and I urged him to get back into his car. I then asked Combrink if he was okay, and the next thing I was also attacked with the baseball bat.
"I collapsed from the blow, and saw Saunders approaching
Combrink again. I tried to hold onto Saunders' leg to stop him, but he then placed his foot on my chest and struck me on the head
again."
Walden said he heard a woman in Saunders' car scream, and he
then heard Combrink saying Walden should get up off the ground.
Walden said he could only remember the incident in flashes, and not point by point.
The hearing continues on Thursday.
- SAPA
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