Man in court after alleged fatal assault on bedridden man

A 31-year-old man who allegedly assaulted the 59-year-old father of his common-law wife to such an extent that he was hospitalised and consequently died, will appear in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. The victim was living with his daughter and the suspect.

The deceased’s son claimed that on 16 June the suspect assaulted his bedridden and wheelchair-bound father in his bed. The cause of death was cited as blunt-force trauma. The suspect allegedly accused the deceased of having put sugar in his motor vehicle’s fuel tank, causing the engine to seize. The son also claimed the suspect has a history of drug abuse and that on the day of the incident he tried to assault the deceased’s neighbour.

An initial charge of assault was laid and the suspect appeared in court on 20 June but was released on bail. On 19 June the victim passed away in Leratong Hospital but the family only found out about his death three days later. The suspect again appeared in court on 6 July but the case was postponed until 13 July, pending the autopsy report. It is believed that the charge against him will be changed to murder tomorrow.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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