WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2007-08-01 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
With the defence still to present its case, the Legal Aid Board (LAB) has already forked out more than R11 million over the past four years for the defence of the 21 accused in the Boeremag trial.
This figure was on Monday confirmed by the LAB, which also received a tongue-lashing from Judge Eben Jordaan for dragging its heels in responding to requests by various counsel for payment relating to an application for the discharge of the accused on certain charges.
Jordaan postponed the case on Monday in the Pretoria High Court and said the delay was the fault of the LAB, which in certain instances had not responded to the request of some of the advocates for funding.
He said the administration of justice could only be served if all parties worked together.
| It is understood that all the accused will ask for their discharge |
Jordaan said the wheels of justice could not turn if all did not co-operate. The LAB, he said, was an integral part of this machinery.
The LAB is funded by the taxpayer.
The judge provisionally postponed the case to Thursday, adding that things did not “look rosy” for the trial to commence on that day. He said the various advocates had to study the record of the proceedings (which is already running into more than 28 000 pages) in order to prepare for their applications.
It is understood that all the accused will ask for their discharge, but only on certain charges in which they claim the State has no evidence against them.
The 21 accused, of which 13 are awaiting trial in Pretoria’s C-Max prison, four years ago pleaded not guilty to 42 charges.
The charges involved the group’s alleged plot to overthrow the ANC government, and includes murder.
This is the result of a bombing in 2002 of a Soweto railway line, in which a woman died.
Meanwhile, the accused who are on bail yesterday reunited with their co-accused who are in jail following the court recess of more than a month. Handshakes all around and conversations to catch up on the news formed a big part of Monday’s proceedings before the court began in session.
While accused Rudi Gouws, sporting leg-irons, walked around in short denim shorts, some of his co-accused felt the winter cold, wearing beanies and gloves.
Gouws and co-accused Herman van Rooyen had remained in leg-irons after they were recaptured in January after eight months on the run. They escaped in May last year from the holding cells at the High Court.
The State closed its case in June and the defence is now due to present its case.
The LAB has confirmed that nine defence counsel submitted their applications for additional fees towards the end of June. Mpho Phasha, for the LAB, said the cost request was in excess of R600 000. “In order to properly consider the merits of this application as well as noting the high cost of the additional fees requested, the LAB had to gather further information regarding this case.”
He added that a decision was made and communicated to the practitioners on July 20. All accounts submitted by the Boeremag counsel had been paid in accordance with LAB tariffs.