Nephew appears in court for hacking his uncles

VERENA – A 17-year-old boy appeared before the Mkobola Magistrate’s Court in Kwaggafontein for hacking his two uncles with an axe.

The suspect’s appearance follows a complaint that was received by police on Saturday, 16 August 2014, at Verena regarding the 17-year-old boy suspected of mentally instability.

According to the police, upon their arrival at the scene, they managed to calm him down and was handcuffed for the safety of others.

“The boy was arrested and released upon the family’s request for them to seek help for him in a traditional way,” said Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, Spokesperson for the Police.

Information at police disposal revealed that around midnight, on Sunday 17 August 2014, the 17-year-old boy woke up, went into the room were his uncles were sleeping and attacked them with an axe.

“He apparently hacked and seriously wounded them on the heads. The suspect’s father was woken up by the noise and when he went to investigate, he found his son busy chopping his uncles with an axe.

He tried to calm him but he became more violent. The father then produced his licensed firearm and shot him on his leg to rescue the victims,” he said.

The injured people were rushed to the local clinic where they were urgently transferred to hospital in critical conditions.
The suspect was busted and also taken to hospital under police guard, however he was treated and discharged the same day.

A case of attempted murder was also opened against the father but the docket will be sent to the Public Prosecutor for a decision.