'Hostage' slept through drama

2003-12-24 11:11

Cape Town - A hostage drama in Constantia on Tuesday had a sequel on Wednesday when businessman Glen John Hoffman appeared in the Wynberg magistrate's court on a charge of attempted murder.

Hoffman, 33, of Constantia, was not asked to plead, and was released on R1 000 bail by magistrate H Mohamed.

The case was postponed to March 19 for further investigation.

Defence attorney William Booth said Hoffman had no previous convictions or pending cases, and was self-employed.

Booth said five shots were fired at the floor during the incident on Tuesday but no one was injured.

During the incident, Hoffman is alleged to have called his estranged wife Michelle and arranged to see her and Hoffman's son.

However, when she arrived at the Constantia home without the boy, Hoffman allegedly produced a firearm and threatened her.

She ran out and alerted a local security company, saying that Hoffman was apparently holding another man, who worked on the premises, hostage.

When the security company responded, shots were allegedly fired at them.

The police, including hostage negotiators were dispatched to the scene, but could not enter the home because of an electric fence and had to arrange for the electricity supply to be cut.

Police managed to get hold of Hoffman via the intercom and he handed himself over.

His 26-year-old "hostage" had slept through most of the drama. Apparently he had heard shots, went to the main house to investigate and was told by Hoffman everything was fine.

The "hostage" then went back to sleep.

- SAPA