Boeremag lawyers 'must quit'

2004-03-24 14:10

Pretoria - The prosecution in the Boeremag treason trial is to launch an urgent application next week for the withdrawal of two of the defence advocates.

Bert Bam SC, representing the State, told trial Judge Eben Jordaan he had instructions to launch an urgent application for the recusal of advocates Harry Prinsloo and Louisa van der Walt, who represent three of the 22 Boeremag treason accused.

He said the application was still being finalised and would be served on the two advocates early next week so that they could reply.

The court was earlier told of allegations that there might be irregularities in the trial as the two advocates had represented the next State witness, Lourens du Plessis, in a bail application and had consulted with him.

Du Plessis was an accused in the case before he turned State witness.

Prosecution leader Paul Fick said the application would be brought before another court, as there were facts that should not be placed before the trial judge.

Two of the defence advocates earlier expressed concern that the application could not only affect the rest of the trial, but had the potential of affecting the regularity of the proceedings as a whole.

In a further startling claim, counsel for the Boeremag's alleged military commander, Tom Vorster, on Wednesday claimed his client's wife had been "improperly approached" by the police and paid R2 500 to gather information for them.

Advocate Danie Kotze told the court he had the cash in his possession "and did not know what to do with it", as they had been unsuccessful in returning the money to the police.

He said his client felt that he was being intimidated and victimised.

Advocate Piet Pistorius, who represents several of the accused, told the court his clients were in the process of drawing up an application against the Legal Aid Board after Judge Ben du Plessis turned down their bid to secure increased fees for their legal representatives.

The trial will continue on April 2.

- SAPA