Killer taxi driver to spend Christmas in jail

2011-12-15 13:02

Cape Town - Minibus taxi driver Jacob Humphreys, found guilty this week of murdering 10 children, will remain in jail after his lawyers failed to find a judge to hear an application to have his bail reinstated.

"The matter was not on the roll. It appears as though his legal representatives failed to make the necessary arrangement of getting a judge," National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said.

"He will be in jail for Christmas."

Humphreys was found guilty on Monday of murdering 10 schoolchildren when his minibus was hit by a train at a level crossing in Blackheath outside Cape Town on August 25 last year.

Western Cape High Court Judge Robert Henney also found Humphreys, 55, guilty on four charges of attempted murder.

Humphreys, who was taking the children to school, had stopped at the Buttskop level crossing in Blackheath, overtook a row of cars, ignored safety signals and proceeded over the tracks.

A train hit the taxi and 10 of the children were killed. Four were seriously injured.

Henney said he could not think of a better example of a person being able to foresee the consequences of their actions as when Humphreys zig-zagged through the level crossing.

Humphreys had his R20 000 bail revoked and was taken into custody after the verdict.

He will be sentenced in February next year.

- SAPA