Publication: Independent on Saturday Issued: Date: 2006-03-04 Reporter: Jeremy Gordin

Former Vlakplaas Chief Endorses Rape Trial Judge

 

Publication 

The Independent on Saturday
Date

2006-03-04

Reporter

 Jeremy Gordin

Web Link

www.tios.co.za

 

Former Vlakplaas commander and convicted murderer Eugene de Kock has said that Judge Willem Van der Merwe - who sent De Kock to jail for two life sentences plus 212 years, and who has been chosen to preside at former deputy president Jacob Zuma's rape trial - was "a scrupulously fair and straightforward judge".

A friend of De Kock's, who had talked to De Kock in Pretoria Central Prison, said: "Ja, I happened to be talking to Gene and I asked him if he knew that Van der Merwe had been appointed to preside in the Zuma matter.

"'I asked him 'Isn't that funny?' I meant funny-peculiar in that Van der Merwe was the guy who sentenced Gene to life sentences plus 212 years.

"De Kock received amnesty for nearly all of that stuff, but not for one set of killings, so he's still sitting, as you know.

"Anyway, Gene said that it was kind of ironic - that the man who put him away for life was going to preside at Zuma's rape trial."

De Kock told the source that in his view Van der Merwe had focused during De Kock's trial in 1995 and 1996 in a "totally unbiased way" on the evidence before him.

"De Kock," said the source, "said the judge had no interest in colour, class or status or any of that stuff." Yesterday, Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, said the defence team had "no problems whatsoever" with the decision.

With acknowledgements to the Independent on Saturday and Jeremy Gordin.