Sabrina Dean
The Gauteng police officer accused of assaulting two Bloemfontein men in a fuel station convenience store earlier this month is scheduled to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court today.
His lawyer Ben Botes said he hopes a trial date can be arranged today so that the case can be finalised speedily. However, he says input is still needed from the Director of Public Prosecutions because his client is a police officer.
Sergeant Christoffel Neuhoff is accused of assaulting Neil and Eben Sonnekus in the early hours of the morning of 2 March. He is an officer with the Boipatong Crime Prevention unit in Gauteng and lives in Sasolburg.
Gauteng police spokesperson Katlego Mogale this week told Bloemfontein Courant Neuhoff will be suspended from work. She said the SAPS has begun an internal disciplinary process, which will run parallel to the criminal trial. She said the suspension will stay in effect until both processes have been finalised.
According to the Sonnekus brothers, they had been visiting at home and decided to go to the garage to get something to eat. This was just before 1am.
Eben, 31, said they were waiting for their food when the attack occurred. It is not exactly clear what was said between the two parties.
He says his brother Neil, 34, was hit first and fell to the ground. When he attempted to intervene he was also knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten.
Neil spent an entire week in Pelonomi hospital with a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain. He was discharged on Friday 8 March.
The assault, allegedly by Neuhoff, was captured on CCTV footage. The clip can be seen at www.ofm.co.za.
Neuhoff was arrested on Tuesday, 12 March, and appeared in court the following day. He is out on R500 bail and was told to be back in court today to determine a trial date.
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