Security boss saw accused “kick and stomp” on Brett Williams
Security boss, Niel Burger told the court this week how he had witnessed accused Blayne Shepard kick and stomp on Brett Williams as he lay on the ground.
A TOP security manager, the second witness in the Brett Williams murder trial, was cross examined throughout Thursday’s court proceedings at the Durban Regional Court.
Niel Burger, general manager of Fidelity Security Services, the security company contracted to Kings Park Stadium, took to the witness stand again on Thursday morning.
Burger reiterated his evidence-in-chief on Wednesday, despite cross examination by Blayne and Kyle Shepard’s counse,l Christo van Schalkwyk.
Burger, who was in charge of physical security and not technical security, confirmed he only saw Blayne Shepard kick Williams on the torso.
“I saw the accused 1 (Blayne Shepard) kick and stomp on the deceased.”
Burger did not remember what Williams or Shepard was wearing on the night, only what he had seen after he was called to a fight in progress at about ten o clock after the Super Rugby match.
He said he drove his golf cart to the spot where the fight was in progress and went to break up the fight when he was punched in the face.
He walked back to his golf cart and turned around. It was then that he witnessed the fight.
“I remember what I saw, the accused (Shepard) was next to the trailer. I stand by my statement, despite accused 1 denying kicking and stomping on Williams chest,” Burger said when van Schalkwyk told him that Blayne Shepard denied ever assaulting Williams.
Burger also recalled Shepard giving someone a high five after kicking and stomping on William’s chest.
According to Burger he had been introduced to Blayne Shepard on one occasion before the incident and he knew him “by sight and first namd only.”
When van Schalkwyk put to Burger that he knew Shepard more closely as he had employed him and issued him with a Fidelity shirt he said: “I do not sign on guards, or issue the uniforms, or employ guards at the stadium.”
He added that Shepard had worked on one occasion as a temporary worker for Fidelity, escorting rugby players from the bus to the change rooms but did not understand why Shepard had the uniform.
“The uniform shirts should have been returned after the match,” he said.
The trail which was set to conclude today, will probably be adjourned to September and again November as only two state witnesses have appeared to date.
