MURDER CHARGE SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO TAXIS
The Freedom Front Plus says changing the charge against the taxi driver responsible for the death of Bernadine Kruger to murder is a victory for all road users who suffer from the reckless and callous behaviour of taxis on South African roads on a daily basis.
This follows after the charge against Mr. Percyval Matji was changed to a murder charge today in the Pretoria Magistrates Court.
According to FF Plus councillor in the Tshwane metro council, Conrad Beyers the decision is also a victory for constructive politics in South Africa.
"This proves that by pro-active action a political party such as the FF Plus can have a very strong influence on the decisions made by the government and its institutions. If the FF Plus did not send the official request to the NPA, the death of Bernadine Kruger would forever have been regarded as a mere accident in the court records", Beyers said.
In February the FF Plus decided to officially request the NPA to change the charge to murder, based on legal advice of Adv. Anton Alberts. Adv. Alberts advised the FF Plus that the principle of dolus eventualis is applicable in this case. According to this principle a transgressor who could envisage and reconcile him with the fact that his actions may lead to someone's death and still continues with his actions, may be found guilty of murder.