Farmer: I didn't shoot at people
04/04/2007 10:34  - (SA)  

Judge wants farmer to explain Judge wants farmer to explain 'Here's R200, go see a doctor' 'Here's R200, go see a doctor' 'I thought he was a baboon' 'I thought he was a baboon'

Johannesburg - A Limpopo farmer accused of shooting dead a Zimbabwean worker he claimed to have mistaken for a baboon has denied deliberately shooting at people.

Jewell Crossberg told the Polokwane Circuit Court on Tuesday he was trying to scare off a troop of baboons on the fateful day, the SABC reported.

He is charged with the murder of 27-year-old Jealous Dube on his farm near Musina in 2004.

Three state witnesses testified that Crossberg fired two shots at them.

On Tuesday, the first defence witness, a councillor at the Musina Municipality, told a packed court room how Crossberg socially and financially contributed to the upliftment of the Musina community.

He said Crossberg financially assisted the ANC during the apartheid days with money, transport and helped with bail money for some members in Musina.

Taking the stand, Crossberg told the court he only fired two shots in the bush, level to the height of his bakkie.

He was trying to scare off a troop of baboons on the day of the shooting, he said.

The Polokwane High Court on Monday dismissed an application by Crossberg's defence counsel for the murder case to be discharged.

The judge said that he should testify and explain in court why he fired shots at what he said he thought was a pack of baboons.

The judge said he was not convinced that the matter should just be left as an unexplained death.

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