Waterkloof Four file appeal papers

Lawyers for convicted murderers the Waterkloof Four have filed papers in the Pretoria High Court for an application for leave to appeal, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday.

Christoff Becker, Frikkie du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk and Reinach Tiedt want to take their murder-conviction appeal to Bloemfontein’s Supreme Court of Appeal after they lost their first appeal case in the Pretoria High Court last week.

In 2005 the four were found guilty 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.

Lawyers for the accused—who have been given a 12-year prison sentence—say the state has not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Waterkloof Four’s lawyers also say the testimony of state witnesses was not credible and contained many contradictions.

No date for the application has been set yet.—Sapa