Boeremag trial delayed
2004-08-06 13:32
Pretoria - A defence lawyer's illness resulted in yet another delay in the Boeremag treason trial on Friday.
The Pretoria High Court was told that advocate Piet Pistorius was still recovering from pneumonia, and was expected to be available next Tuesday. The trial was postponed until then.
Pistorius's illness resulted in the hearing being postponed on Wednesday to Friday (today), but the court heard he was not yet well enough.
The hearing would resume next week with the testimony of accused turned State witness Henk van Zyl.
Van Zyl, 39, who started his evidence on Tuesday, is the third witness to be called since the trial started more than a year ago.
He told the court on Tuesday of several meetings held to plan a coup d'etat and the banishing of blacks and Indians from the country.
The 22 trialists are facing 42 charges related to an alleged plot to overthrow the government - including treason, terrorism, sabotage, murder, and the possession of illegal arms, ammunition and explosives.
- SAPA