Biker’s widow questions the justice system

DIANA Rogers, whose husband was killed in a motorbike accident, has been seeking answers from the justice system for the last two years.

John Rogers was killed in an accident involving a motor vehicle in Shelly Beach on February 16, 2012. The accident occurred while Mr Rogers was travelling to work.

Six months later, the investigating officer told Mrs Rogers that the case had been thrown out of court, as there were not enough witnesses.

Mrs Rogers wrote a letter to the local newspaper, and put her story on facebook asking for witnesses to come forward. She also contacted senior public prosecutor, Freek Stander, who offered her assistance.

Witnesses did come forward, and Mrs Rogers is aware of four witnesses who submitted statements.

Mrs Rogers said she was told by people who were at the scene of the accident that police officers had taken numerous statements.

The case finally went to court in September last year, but was postponed on several occasions.

In February this year, the case went to trial. However, Mrs Rogers said the witnesses were not questioned.

The case was postponed, but didn’t proceed in court, and was struck off the court roll.

Mrs Rogers is now looking for answers as to why the case was taken off the court roll, and why it was thrown out of court on two occasions.

In response, KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said the decision to strike the matter off the court roll was taken by the magistrate.

She confirmed that the driver of the motor vehicle was charged with culpable homicide.

“The docket will be forwarded to the director of public prosecution’s office. On studying the docket we will consider our options,” she said.

Mr Rogers left behind two young children.”I don’t want my children to grow up asking why I never did anything about their father’s accident,” she said.