Farmer held for killing poacher
16/04/2009 21:18 - (SA)

Johannesburg - A 20-year-old farmer from Grahamstown was arrested for allegedly killing a poacher on Wednesday.

Grahamstown police spokesperson Milanda Coetzer said the farmer, who lived on his brother's farm, allegedly beat a 38-year-old suspected poacher to death after four buck went missing on the farm.

"He confronted the man (the poacher) and a fight broke out," said Coetzer.

The farmer managed to arrest the alleged poacher and called the Grahamstown police's animal theft unit, who went out to the scene.

"They picked up the poacher but when they arrived at the police station, the man was dead," said Coetzer.

The farmer was then arrested for the murder of the poacher.

"We reported the case to the Independent Complaints Directorate, but they decided today (Thursday) that they are not going to investigate the police for the incident as they believe the farmer was responsible for the death," said Coetzer.

The 20-year-old was in police custody and will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on charges of murder soon.

"We also opened a stock theft case," said Coetzer.

Coetzer said the man had injuries caused by a blunt object on his body, but the cause of death is not known, as the post mortem had not been done yet.

Police did not release the name of the dead man as his family had not yet been informed.

- SAPA

times are a changin - years ago they would have brought him to town & bought him a steak dinner

Seems to me to be a clear cut case of police brutality, with efforts to cover up the crime!
Peter.

As I see it, the key here is in the statement that "they picked up the poacher but when they arrived at the police station, the man was dead" It doesn't say that they picked up the body of the poacher and arrived at the police station with it. So, it does appear to be police brutality with efforts to cover it up.

Never call the police.........

Should'a just S.S.&S.

Seems odd though, if the guy was that bad off when they picked him up, surely it'd have showed and they'd have taken him to hospital rather than the police station. I smell a rat. What's the chances we'll ever know???

That's what shovels and deep bush are for.

Friends in SA tell a similar story about a group of young rugby players visiting one of their fathers farms. They encountered poachers with dogs, and one of the poachers escaped. Apparently they are still in prison.

Comments included the opinion that after one night in jail you are dead already from AIDS. If true, and I have no reason to doubt it, it is very unfortunate this young farmer is in jail to say the least.

Firstly, it is very probable that the police are trying to shift the blame onto this farmer - similar things have happened. If that is the case, let's hope he has all his ducks in a row and can prove his innocence.

But, let's not jump to conclusions and use the brutal slaying of the rabbit poacher by the drunk rugby players as a comparison. I have no doubt that they were 100% guilty, and so does the reporter who wrote this article and millions of other people - the evidence was damning. There are always two sides to a story, and evil manifests itself in individuals from all races and all sectors of society.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t...Zk8fsAk3JZKo3N-o0eXw

David

David, the only point I was trying to make was the going to jail is not a good thing. I was not trying to compare the two events, nor defend the rugby players.

Prior to reading the link you provided, the only information I had about the rugby player incident was via word of mouth, and the story revolved around the negative consequences of jail.

Hence, my point that it is unfortunate the farmer was jailed. I hope conditions inside are not as described by my friend.

Chuck,

No barb or whatever intended, just trying to set the record straight. I'm sure the poor fellow in Kathi's post is innocent - I know all about African policing!

I think conditions in all African jails/prisons are absolutely horrendous, and I do speak with some experience But I guess one's survival in such an 'establishment' depends on one's mindset. I know guys who have done time here and come out stronger for it... Jeez, I'm coming across as quite the criminal eh?

David

Aha, David! A criminal past! There has to be stories there!

My criminal past was abandoned in my teenage years when I figured out I was old enough to be tried as an adult. I had to give all those cars back, darn the luck.

Chuck,

I said I am coming across as quite the criminal, not that I have a criminal past
Here one doesn't need to be a criminal to get jailed. Sometimes it takes as little as saying the wrong thing to the wrong guy in a bar, or something...And maybe following up the comment by giving that wrong guy a smack on the chops, or something...
To this day, I maintain my innocence

Dave

Well...sure.....uh huh.....wasn't me, either.

Seriosly, I know its different there. I forget sometimes. I went to college in Mexico for a while, and it could be similar. Usually not for gringos, but it was good to keep your mouth shut at certain times. I was in Oaxaca during the rioting in 1977 I think and you certainly didn't expose a camera ... or else.

Poor guy. I hope he gets out fast!