Charlize's uncle has his say
2004-03-08 11:13
London - Danie Theron, who was wounded the night Charlize's father Charles was shot dead, says the Oscar winner's mother, Gerda Theron, is no hero.
However, he still has a soft spot for Charlize and he hopes that she will contact him.
Theron told British newspaper The Mail on Sunday that Charlize's mother shot his brother in the back while he was lying on the ground, bleeding from three bullet wounds.
The incident occurred 15 years ago at the couple's Benoni home while Charlize hid in her room. Charles was shot dead following an angry outburst during which he threatened to kill his wife and daughter.
Danie recounted the incident, saying when he and his brother arrived at the couple's home, they found the gate locked.
"Charles carried a semi-automatic .22 Browning pistol for self-defence and he took it out and shot the lock.
"I was shocked, grabbed him and told him to stop, but he was beside himself," Danie says.
"After he entered the house, I heard shots and ran inside. I froze when I saw Gerda in the bedroom door, pointing a gun at me. She fired without any warning.
"I didn't say a word and didn't shout, because I was too shocked. I covered my face with my hands and a shot penetrated two fingers of my left hand. There was blood everywhere.
"While I ran away because I was fearing for my life, I heard another shot. This was aimed at my brother, who already had been shot three times."
Danie says he still has his brother's leather jacket he wore the night of the shooting, showing three bullet wounds in the left sleeve and a fourth in the back.
Gerda was never prosecuted because the state found she had acted in self-defence.
Danie says, "it still feels as if Charlize is our young girl. Obviously we don't blame her for what had happened that evening. We haven't heard a word from her after she left South Africa.
"It will be wonderful to hear from her again, but like most other people, we will watch her on television, but it hurts."