/ 28 January 2009

Sword-killing case transferred to Jo’burg High Court

The case of the boy who allegedly killed a fellow pupil with a sword was on Wednesday transferred to the Johannesburg High Court for trial.

Dressed in a blue T-shirt, Morne Harmse (18) appeared briefly before magistrate Keith Page in the Krugersdorp Regional Court.

The trial was scheduled to run from April 14 to May 6.

Harmse faces charges of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

On August 18 Harmse, brandishing a samurai sword and wearing a mask, allegedly killed 16-year-old Jacques Pretorius at the Nic Diederichs Technical High School in Krugersdorp. He also allegedly stabbed and injured another boy and two gardeners.

The state has lined up 55 witnesses to testify against Harmse. — Sapa