James Dalton: I'll f*** you up!
2008-06-25 08:03
Pretoria - Former Springbok hooker James Dalton is embroiled in controversy for the umpteenth time - this time for alleged murder threats against a well-known Pretoria lawyer.
The flame which lit Dalton's fuse this time was apparently a tiny Miniature Schnauzer, "that thinks it's a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Rottweiler".
The dog Leo belongs to Peet Viljoen, a Pretoria-based lawyer whose clients include Steve Hofmeyr and Joost van der Westhuizen.
Viljoen said on Tuesday that he was looking at possible legal steps against Dalton after Leo growled and barked at Dalton's dog, "a scruffy dog of dubious descent", at the clubhouse of the Silver Lakes golf estate, where both Viljoen and Dalton live, in Pretoria.
"James lost it when Leo growled at his dog.
"In front of about 30 people in the clubhouse and with an influential Korean client sitting next to me, he laid into me and threatened to fuck me up.
"The swearing and shouting were a hell of an embarrassment to me with the Korean next to me.
The man wants to invest in a huge development in South Africa.
"I tried to calm James down but he turned back to me four times and screamed, 'I will fuck you up!' and 'I will fucking kill you!'
"Granted, Leo was not on a lead, but he is harmless. Even the estate's cats quickly sort him out.
"I said to James that if he touched as much as my shirt, I would sue him (so much) that it would make his head spin.
"I won't let myself be intimidated by Dalton but how can adult men fight over a little, growling dog?
"I'm now considering taking legal steps against James.
"I'm also considering asking the club management to ban James from the clubhouse permanently," Viljoen said on Tuesday.
Dalton said via his lawyer Oelof de Meyer that Viljoen was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"Yes, James went to speak to Viljoen about his dog but Viljoen was the one who wanted a fist fight.
"James said he would give his number to Viljoen so they could set up a meeting to fight. He then left the scene."