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BEATEN to within an inch of his life for supposedly stealing R20, a young man still fears for his life.

In February 2004, Denzil Gordon, then aged 14, was given R20 and sent to the shop by Philippi farm owner, Henry Naude (43).

Gordon apparently ran off with the money. According to statements, Naude sent out some people to find the boy and bring him to his house.

Naude, Donovan Stuurman, Randal Swart and Hendrik Crowkamp then purportedly assaulted the boy.

He was allegedly hit on the head with a gun, beaten with a spade, and strangled with rope ? all the while being punched and kicked.

After Gordon lost consciousness, police were called, and Gordon was rushed to hospital.

All four men were arrested and charged with attempted murder. They were granted bail in the Wynberg Regional Court in 2004, and made several appearances afterwards. According to the investigating officer, all of them went into hiding.

Crowkamp, Swart and Stuurman were found in different locations around the city. Naude, on the other hand, ran off to Lepalale in the Limpopo Province. Police arrested him there, and brought him back to Cape Town last week.

Naude and his co-accused appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court on Tuesday, 6 May. The trial date was set for Wednesday, 28 May. All four were remanded into custody.

Meanwhile, Gordon has recovered from the ordeal physically, but not emotionally, he says. Unable to look anyone in the eye, and soft spoken, he told People's Post the fact that all four are in police custody meant nothing to him.

"I'm still scared for my life. It feels like if they want to, they can still get to me. I just want the trial over with," Gordon said.

He now lives with a family member in Atlantis, and works in the construction industry.

"That night still haunts me. I could have died. I don't know if I'll ever feel safe again."

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