Schalk Burger 'wants to settle'
2005-01-27 08:51
Cape Town - "As far as we are concerned, there is not really a case from either side and we want to see whether we can't settle it among ourselves."
This was the hope Mias Schreuder, legal representative of Springbok flanker Schalk Burger, expressed on Wednesday after Burger and Garth Muller filed charges against each other related to an argument in Stellenbosch early on the morning of January 10.
Burger claims Muller repeatedly crashed into his car and Muller alleges Burger assaulted him.
Schreuder said the "entire thing was blown out of proportion by initial reporting that this had been a road rage incident. There was nothing of the sort from either party's side."
He said Burger reported the case for insurance purposes and was then stuck with the charges.
Schreuder believes no criminal charges should be brought against Burger since there was no case of road rage. He hopes to discuss this with the directorate of public prosecutions, which has to decide whether to pursue a criminal case against Burger or not.
"Schalk did not file the charges to get at Muller. It was merely for insurance purposes because he needed a case number. He also submitted Muller's driver's licence, which Muller had given to him, to the police," Schreuder said.
Muller did not want to comment on the matter on Wednesday, apart from saying that he had appointed legal counsel.