BOEREMAG bomber Kobus Pretorius told the North Gauteng High Court yesterday he never believed anyone would die as a result of the powerful bombs he planted.

Pretorius told the court he and the other members of the Boeremag’s bomb squad (including his brothers Johan and Wilhelm) had chosen targets away from buildings and people.

When Judge Eben Jordaan asked how he felt when he heard that a woman had died in one of the bomb blasts, Pretorius said he at the time thought the woman must have committed some sin which was why God had punished her.

He said they may have laughed when they heard a radio report about the death, but their “excitement” was more about the effectiveness of the bombs they had built.

Judge Jordaan wanted to know if Pretorius did not think that people could be injured or killed if a passenger train derailed because they blew up the railway line.

Pretorius said they had heard there were sensors on the railway tracks which would have prevented trains from using them.

Pretorius denied a statement by prosecutor Pieter Luyt that he was sailing close to the wind and would clearly try anything to get out of jail.

He said his applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court and to be declared a prisoner-of-war were the result of legal advice.

He denied suddenly blaming the Pretorius family for his crimes because he knew he was in  trouble.

“I don’t blame the Pretorius family. I said they made me the person I was but I take full responsibility for what I did,” he said.

Psychologist Dr Elsabe Swanepoel testified that Pretorius still needed the approval of others but had made great strides in thinking for himself and making his own decisions.