'Law biased against abused men'

2005-02-08 08:17

Liela Magnus

Pretoria - A man who claims the Domestic Violence Act is biased against men had to watch his ex-fiancée and alleged attacker walk out of Pretoria magistrate's court a free woman on Monday.

Ewald Jordaan, 35, of Pretoria refused to comment after the ruling, but earlier said in a letter to a newspaper that he felt men did not enjoy the same rights under this law as women.

Angeline Cronjé, 28, was charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after she allegedly bit and slapped Jordaan.

Jordaan claimed Cronjé bit him after he pulled the plug of a hi-fi out of the wall because he felt she was playing music too loudly.

But, he said it was not the first time she had assaulted him.

Cronjé, however, claimed Jordaan had covered her mouth with his hand while she was asleep and that she had bitten him in self-defence, as she could not breathe.

'Wisdom of Solomon needed'

Magistrate JC Kruger said both parties were good witnesses.

"The court does not have the wisdom of Solomon to say which person is the best liar, actor or who put a better version of their story across to the court."

He said the accused was given the benefit of the doubt in such an instance.

Jordaan earlier applied to have a female magistrate removed from the case because he felt she was biased.

Magistrate Anita Govender apparently looked at the petite Cronjé and well-built Jordaan and suggested they settle the case out of court.

- Beeld