Stadium accused a State witness
|Published
A picture from Louise Scott's Facebook page shows Brett Willams and their daughter. A picture from Louise Scott's Facebook page shows Brett Willams and their daughter.
One of the five men facing charges related to the murder of former Royal Marine Brett Williams, in a stadium brawl, walked out of the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday as a free man.
The State had decided to withdraw charges against Grant Cramer, prosecutor Krishen Shah told magistrate Vanitha Armu.
Cramer, initially charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria for his alleged role in the brawl at Kings Park Stadium on March 23, had now turned State witness.
Cramer appeared briefly alongside his four co-accused – brothers Blayne and Kyle Shepard, Andries van der Merwe and Dustin van Wyk – who each face a charge of murder, three charges of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and one of crimen injuria.
The State alleges that Williams, a South-African born British citizen, was killed in a savage “pack attack” after the Sharks/Rebels Super Rugby match at the stadium.
Shah had previously indicated that there was a likelihood that charges against Cramer would be withdrawn due to speculation that he might not be directly linked to the murder.
The court had heard that Cramer was involved in a physical altercation with Williams prior to the fight that led to his death.
Williams, who sustained injuries to his forehead, face, hands and knees, was declared dead at the scene.
Cramer’s name had, on the last occasion, appeared on a list of potential State witnesses with whom his co-accused were warned not to communicate.
On Tuesday, Shah handed a copy of Grant’s statement to the defence and confirmed that Cramer would be called to testify for the State.
Soon after the charges against Cramer were withdrawn, the remaining accused appeared briefly before regional court magistrate, Trevor Levitt, for trial dates to be arranged.
The State is expected to call close to a dozen witnesses during the course of the trial, which is expected to commence at the Durban Regional Court in March.
Levitt advised the accused to ensure that their legal fees were secured timeously so as not to delay the trial.
Loved ones in the gallery sobbed quietly when Levitt informed the accused that a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison was compulsory if found guilty.
Depending on previous convictions or pending cases, the accused could face up to 25 years in prison, Levitt said.