Policemen 'penis size' killings
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:29 pm
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/articl ... e-killings
Policemen brothers guilty of 'penis size' killings
Sep 27, 2010 10:59 PM | By NIVASHNI NAIR
Two brothers, former police officers, who opened fire on other customers during a pub fight over penis size in 2008 did so with the intent to kill.
The Durban High Court yesterday rejected Brian and Leon Steven's defence that they were attacked by "a crowd of racists".
The two men were found guilty on four charges of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The brothers shot and killed Rory Menzies, Shawn Strydom, Nicolaas Jansen van Rensburg and Bruce Edwards at the Merseyside Tavern and Pub, in Durban.
The court heard that the fight was triggered by a "little banter between guys" in the bar's toilets about the size of their penises.
But Brian Steven told the court that the fight was racially motivated.
He claimed that, after a punch was thrown outside the bar, he went back inside the Merseyside Tavern and Pub to "save" his brother.
He claimed he was attacked, so he fought back with his gun.
"If I had not fired those shots I would have been seriously injured or [killed] because the crowd was advancing towards me," he said.
"The whole pub was against us because we were non-whites.
"No one defended us. It was because of our skin colour," he told the court.
But Judge Guido Penzhorn yesterday rejected his version of the fatal events at the pub.
He said Brian Steven was an unimpressive witness and that his brother's exercising of his right not to testify had given the impression that he did not have a credible explanation to offer for his involvement in the killings.
"The accused forced their way back in to seek revenge for what had happened to them at the hands of some white patrons. Both accused fired shots.
"In firing, the accused had acted in common purpose with lethal weapons," said Penzhorn.
"Both accused were experienced policemen, but they entered with the intention to use those lethal weapons and fired seven shots at unarmed patrons," he said.
Members of the Stevens' family in the court's packed public gallery wiped away tears when Penzhorn revoked the bail of the two brothers.
Before the brothers were taken into custody, they wept when their relatives hugged them.
They are due to be sentenced today. - nairn@thetimes.co.za
Policemen brothers guilty of 'penis size' killings
Sep 27, 2010 10:59 PM | By NIVASHNI NAIR
Two brothers, former police officers, who opened fire on other customers during a pub fight over penis size in 2008 did so with the intent to kill.
The Durban High Court yesterday rejected Brian and Leon Steven's defence that they were attacked by "a crowd of racists".
The two men were found guilty on four charges of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The brothers shot and killed Rory Menzies, Shawn Strydom, Nicolaas Jansen van Rensburg and Bruce Edwards at the Merseyside Tavern and Pub, in Durban.
The court heard that the fight was triggered by a "little banter between guys" in the bar's toilets about the size of their penises.
But Brian Steven told the court that the fight was racially motivated.
He claimed that, after a punch was thrown outside the bar, he went back inside the Merseyside Tavern and Pub to "save" his brother.
He claimed he was attacked, so he fought back with his gun.
"If I had not fired those shots I would have been seriously injured or [killed] because the crowd was advancing towards me," he said.
"The whole pub was against us because we were non-whites.
"No one defended us. It was because of our skin colour," he told the court.
But Judge Guido Penzhorn yesterday rejected his version of the fatal events at the pub.
He said Brian Steven was an unimpressive witness and that his brother's exercising of his right not to testify had given the impression that he did not have a credible explanation to offer for his involvement in the killings.
"The accused forced their way back in to seek revenge for what had happened to them at the hands of some white patrons. Both accused fired shots.
"In firing, the accused had acted in common purpose with lethal weapons," said Penzhorn.
"Both accused were experienced policemen, but they entered with the intention to use those lethal weapons and fired seven shots at unarmed patrons," he said.
Members of the Stevens' family in the court's packed public gallery wiped away tears when Penzhorn revoked the bail of the two brothers.
Before the brothers were taken into custody, they wept when their relatives hugged them.
They are due to be sentenced today. - nairn@thetimes.co.za
