The so-called ”Waterkloof Four” will know their fate in November after their sentencing was postponed again in the Pretoria Regional Court on Tuesday.
The four — Christoff Becker, Frikkie du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk and Reinach Tied — were found guilty last year of the apparently racist murder of an unidentified man and the assault of another in 2001.
Their case was referred to the high court for sentencing but was sent back to the regional court after the high court found it was improper for it to sentence the four former schoolboys. They were then supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday, but the magistrate in the case was on sick leave following a back operation.
The case was postponed to November 20 for argument in mitigation of sentencing and to November 27 for sentencing.
Tuesday’s hearing was, however, not without incident, as Becker brought an application for him to be allowed to travel to the United States to study drama at the New York Film Academy.
Becker told the court that he would return to South Africa for sentencing. He also asked the court to take in account that he was outside the country twice while the trial was ongoing and on both occasions returned. On the previous occasion he finished his first semester at the drama school and was due to start his practical course in September.
State prosecutor Johan Kruger argued that it was unheard of for a person found guilty of murder to be allowed to travel abroad. He also argued that the public had the impression that the four were being handled ”with kid gloves”.
Becker’s advocate, Jaap Cilliers, argued that it was unfair to punish Becker for an impression when in reality they were treated the same as any other accused.
Magistrate Peet Johnson, however, found that Becker has no assets or work in South Africa and, with the exception of his family ties, there is nothing to make him return to South Africa.
”It is not in the interest of the law to hand his passport back to him,” Johnson said before denying his application.
He did, however, lighten the bail conditions of the four, ruling that they would only have to report to a police station once a month and not every week as previously ordered. — Sapa