Poisoning: Man in court

2003-06-06 12:29

Thohoyandou - A 34-year-old man appeared briefly in Thohoyandou magistrate's court on Thursday in connection with the alleged attempted murder of seven Limpopo schoolboys, police said on Friday.

Superintendent Ronel Otto said the man, who would not be named to protect the children, was not asked to plead and was remanded.

Otto said he would appear for a bail application on June 11 but the state would oppose this.

The man was arrested on May 14 when seven schoolboys were taken to hospital after sharing his son's juice and yoghurt, which the man allegedly had poisoned.

Apparently the man came to Konanani Lower Primary School, Thohoyandou, on May 13 at midday with juice and yoghurt for his eight-year-old son.

The boy shared the juice and yoghurt with six of his friends and they soon began to vomit and complained of dizziness. They were treated at the Tshilidzini hospital and discharged.

Apparently the man was divorced from the boy's mother and was expected to report to the social welfare court on May 14 to respond to a child maintenance order.

- SAPA