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Kebble plane death plan 'cruel'
14/12/2006 23:15 - (SA)
Borrie la Grange, Beeld
Johannesburg - Brett Kebble's alleged original assisted suicide plan - to spike the pilot's drink and die in an air crash - would be feasible, but very cruel.
That's the view of a pilot who frequently flew Kebble between Johannesburg and Cape Town in a Gulfstream G200-jetplane.
"Brett was brilliant and could possibly have devised something like that, but I think it's more likely one of (Glenn) Agliotti's fantasies. Who would be able to fathom something like that? I suppose it would have been feasible, but cruel," said the flyer, whose name is withheld on request.
Glenn Agliotti, 50, the suspect in the murder trial of mining magnate Brett Kebble, revealed details of this bizarre original plan when he was granted bail in Johannesburg regional court on Wednesday.
Shock at statement
Agliotti alleges that Kebble's death was the result of a well-honed assisted suicide plan, and he says that the plan to use a plane was revised when he (Agliotti) became involved in the planning and execution of an assisted suicide.
"Kebble aided and abetted in his own death - after I became involved in its planning, it was changed to make it look more like a hijacking," Agliotti's statement said.
The pilot told Beeld that Agliotti's statement came as a surprise.
I often flew Brett around, and it was a shock to hear something like that. Many people in the industry phoned me after reading the newspaper reports. I suppose we'll never know if there was such a plan or not. Brett was far too clever, and played his cards close to his chest."
Little contact with passengers
One of his colleagues was a bit more sceptical.
"Pilots don't take drinks from passengers: and I sure never have."
Kebble was usually alone in the cabin and would open and pour his own wine.
"The crew are in the cockpit and there is seldom contact with passengers during the flight. It doesn't sound practical, but it would be very disturbing if there was any truth in it," said the colleague (name also withheld on request).
The jetliner that is apparently in question belonged to a former Kebble company, Baobab Aviation, before being sold to a concern in India, and exported there.
Agliotti is out on bail of R500 000 but he will be watched closely by the Scorpions, while under house arrest, until his trial is over.
- Beeld
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