Court upholds Waterkloof Four murder conviction

The Pretoria High Court on Wednesday turned down an application by the so-called Waterkloof Four to overturn their murder conviction and sentence.

Judge Willie Seriti ruled that the earlier decision by the Pretoria Regional Court to convict Christoff Becker, Frikkie du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk and Reinach Tiedt of murder and assault was correct.

In 2005 they were found guilty by a lower court of the murder of an unidentified man, who bled to death after he was severely assaulted by them, and of the assault of another man who was never identified.

The four were sentenced to an effective 12 years’ imprisonment for the murder and assault.

The high court still has to decide whether or not to extend the four’s bail pending an application to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

The four did not appear in court on Wednesday.—Sapa