Ladysmith KZN: A sombre Martin Wessels, the 43-year-old man accused of shooting Anton Lombard, sat in a packed courtroom today (May 8) as witness statements were read out in his formal bail application.
Wessels has been in police custody since the shooting on April 16, having made his first court appearance on April 17.
Court proceedings were halted early on, after the prosecution objected to the case being heard in Afrikaans. The case resumed after a short delay and the main proceedings continued in English, with some witness affidavits and Martin Wessels’ evidence still being presented in Afrikaans. A translator was made available to translate the evidence into English.
Also read: Shute shooter appears in Ladysmith court today
The court case carried on throughout the day, with video evidence being presented by the defence showing the timeline of events that took place on the evening of the shooting. The crux of the evidence presented by the defence was that Lombard attacked Wessels in the parking lot. Wessels believed that Lombard was armed with a knife and intended to kill him. In the scuffle that ensued out in the parking area, Wessels claimed his gun accidentally went off.
The bail application was adjourned until tomorrow (May 9), when it will continue.
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