OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 3.50pm.
AN angry crowd tried to storm a Durban court where three men faced charges on Friday over a nightclub teargas attack that led to the deaths of 13 school children.
Hundreds of protesters broke down the gates at the court where a bail application was being heard for three men charged with 13 counts of murder. Heavily armed police deployed armoured personnel carriers and dog units to maintain order.
The court heard that Swanthan Chetty, 39, — owner of the rival Sliver Slipper nightclub — supplied the gas grenade which detonated in the Throb nightclub. Senior public prosecutor Barend Groen told the court that Chetty gave the gas grenade to the two other accused, Selban Naidoo, 23, and Dayalan Pillay, 20. Groen said the aim was to get people out of the Throb club. Some in the crowd threatened to kill the men. Two defence lawyers have withdrawn their services and will be replaced by new attorneys.
About 600 youngsters between 11 and 16 were celebrating the end of the school term at the nightclub on March 24 when someone set off a teargas canister. As gas filled the crowded club, the children panicked and rushed for the exit. A wall collapsed during the stampede.
Five boys and six girls died on the scene, another was declared dead upon arriving at a hospital and one more died in on Sunday. More than 100 were seriously injured. – Reuters
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