WHITE RIVER – The Terblanche brothers of J&M Security, Werner and Shaun, were relieved on Friday as they were acquitted of assault with the intend to do grievous bodily harm – finally lifting an axe which had been hanging over their heads for three years.
The charges against them stemmed from an incident at a White River pub, known as Bahati at the time, on November 15, 2013. Lowvelder previously reported that the complainant, Mr Brian Barnard was at the bar, having a conversation with someone he did not know was a suspect in a farm attack. Someone alerted the authorities to the wanted suspect’s whereabouts.
The police and J&M went to the scene to arrest him. They ordered the people sitting at Barnard’s table to lie on the ground, to which the latter protested. Barnard alleged that someone from J&M hit him with the back end of a gun. He said he was further assaulted after he had been dragged out to the pub’s parking lot. What looked like a piece of his nose, was picked up in the parking lot the next day.
The Terblanche brothers pleaded not guilty prior to the state leading witnesses in the case against them. Testimony against the brothers included that of two doctors and the complainant. When the state closed its case, attorney Mr Coert Jordaan applied for the discharge of his clients and asked the court to rule that they were innocent. An order to this effect was granted on Friday.
It was further expressly ruled that the brothers had not acted unlawfully when trying to arrest Barnard. On the contrary, their assisting the police was commended by the magistrate, Mr Eddie Mabaso.
Shaun and Werner said they were pleased about the case finally being over. Shaun expressed his relief on Facebook, updating his status to, “Three long years… but it is now over…”
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