Father and daughters stabbed and assaulted a pregnant woman

An Eersterust father and his two daughters finally made their first court appearance after they stabbed and beat a pregnant woman during a brutal assault almost two years ago.

FATHER AND DAUGHTERS LEFT WOMAN WITH STAB WOUNDS AND BRUISES

Windel Ameer, Shahiedah Courtiers, and Shariefah Ameer appeared in the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 10 February 2023. They face charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They allegedly assaulted Linodene Jacobus in October 2020.

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It is alleged that the father and his daughters assaulted the woman and stabbed her, leaving her with wounds and bruises. She would later lose her unborn baby.

Despite video evidence of the assault and accounts from several eyewitnesses, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute. A Senior Prosecutor in the NPA reasoned that “based on the fact that it was a mutual fight,” there was no prospect of successful prosecution.

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit wrote to the NPA to express astonishment at the irrational decision.

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“Should we accept that women injured in fights will receive no protection from the law? If ‘fights’ are allowed, we make allowance for revenge fights. This may result in lawless chaos,” says Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the unit.

NPA REFUSED TO PROSECUTE THE TRIO

Following pressure from the unit in May last year, the NPA reviewed the decision not to prosecute.

Unit spokesperson Barry Bateman says it is unacceptable that it took so long to ensure the matter was brought to court.

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“It appears the authorities would try to find any excuse not to prosecute. There is sufficient evidence to support the charges against the accused. We are satisfied that the matter is finally before the courts.”

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“We do, however, express the same concern as the complainant’s family: that the accused, through possible influence in their community, can undermine police investigations, which allows them to act with impunity. This is something the unit will not stand for,” says Bateman.

The trio will be back in court on Thursday, 23 February.

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