Victim’s absence frees attempted murder suspect
ALEXANDRA – Freed taverner countercharges his attempted murder victim.
A tavern owner, whose two attempted murder charges against him were dismissed by the Alex Magistrates’ Court, laid a countercharge against one of the victims.
The charge of business robbery was laid against the victim who failed to appear before Magistrate Renier Boshoff assisted by state prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri.
The dismissed charges stem from a shooting incident in mid-June. One involving the victim and the other a security guard who was injured by a stray bullet from the accused’s gun. The guard seemingly reached an agreement with the tavern owner.
Maphiri said the first victim was shot at but not injured when he fled to the Alexandra Police Station to report the owner who had beaten him up after accusing him of breaking into the tavern and stealing a television and liquor worth R20 000. The owner, who was with others, is said to have taken the victim from his home to the tavern where the assault occurred before the shooting.
The victim is said to have admitted to the theft to the police and to selling the television to someone in Thembisa but refused to identify his accomplices or the buyer.
The second victim who was injured in the leg as he was walking to work also went to the station to report the shooting. He found first victim and taverner and both victims reported him, leading to his arrest for attempted murder.
