Boeremag: First arguments
2003-06-23 08:37
Pretoria - The first legal arguments in the treason trial of 22 alleged Boeremag members are expected to be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Monday - more than a month after the hearing was to have started.
Pending the resolution of disagreements between the Legal Aid Board and the accused, legal counsel for 13 of the alleged rightwingers are to bring an application contesting the jurisdiction of the court.
Should the court rule against the jurisdictional challenge, the defence would proceed to ask for the recusal of prosecutor Paul Fick, as well as challenging the charge sheet.
Only after all these matters have been finalised can the actual trial begin - only expected to happen on August 4, after the court's mid-year recess.
The trial was to have started on May 19, but was postponed last Tuesday for the fourth time over unresolved legal aid issues.
Lawyers for 15 of the accused contested decisions by the Legal Aid Board over tariffs payable to defence counsel.
Counsel for the 13 of them are to make representations to the board in this regard at its next meeting in July, while two other men were given until Monday by Judge Eben Jordaan to weigh their options after their legal team withdrew.
The 22 alleged rightwingers stand accused of plotting to
overthrow the government with the aim of declaring a Boer republic.
They face a main charge of high treason and four alternative counts each of terrorism and sabotage.
One count each of murder and attempted murder and an alternative count of conspiracy to murder are also listed. The rest of the 43 charges relate to the illegal possession, manufacturing and use of explosives, arms and ammunition.
- SAPA