'It wasn't Robbie's fault'
2006-06-01 11:56
Pretoria - "I can't believe they're trying to blame Robbie Klay," said Charl Murphy, who witnessed the accident on Saturday night in which the singer and actor and a 40-year-old man were involved.
Murphy decided to speak out after reading about the accident in the newspaper.
The accident happened on the R21 highway near the Olifantsdrift offramp.
The 40-year-old Marius Verster died in the accident.
"My wife and I were at a family gathering in Kempton Park when she went into labour.
No alcohol
"On the highway, I saw the bakkie and the Hyundai Getz in front of me.
"The bakkie started driving faster and faster and then sped into Klay's car," said Murphy.
"I stopped the car and got. I did not even know it was Robbie Klay and only later heard it was him."
Murphy told how when he reached the bakkie, the driver was making choking sounds and how he did not want to move him for fear of injuring him even more. The driver eventually stopped making any sound and Murphy could no longer feel a pulse.
"Neither of them smelled of alcohol and I did not see liquor bottles anywhere. I think the man in the bakkie possibly fell asleep."
Wild accusations
Klay's mother, Jenny Liebenberg, was overjoyed to hear of Murphy speaking out.
"I am so grateful that he has come forward...One is sympathetic towards the family, but it is simply not right to make wild accusations."
Klay's manager, Barry Pretorius, said on Wednesday that Klay's sobriety was "of ethical proportions"(sic). He said one should not make assumptions while police were still investigating the case.
A friend of Klay, Melanie Rall, 18, said she had never seen Klay drink alcohol.
"I've known him a couple of years and I have never seen him drink."
Superintendent Eugene Opperman said there was no official charge against Klay and that the case was still being investigated.