Durban - Called to court to explain his two conflicting letters about a suspended Wentworth policeman, a local councillor on Tuesday admitted he did not know the officer, but had been mandated by the community to write the letters.
Wentworth councillor, Aubrey Snyman, told Durban Regional magistrate, Anand Maharaj, he had written the letters about suspended Captain Larry Heslop.
The policeman was found guilty in February of attempted murder as well as possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
He had been involved in an altercation with Michael Bruce over a parking spot at a petrol station and had fired shots at Bruce, injuring him in his side and buttocks.
Bruce had testified on Monday that his kidney, liver and intestines were damaged and he had not been the same since the attack in September.
At Heslop’s bail application, Snyman had submitted a letter as ward councillor opposing Heslop being released on bail.
However, a second letter he wrote and read out to the court on Monday, referred to Heslop’s good work in the community and appealed for the letter to be taken into account when he was sentenced.
The letter was submitted to the court with a petition of more than 300 signatures, referring to Heslop’s good deeds and that he was an upstanding member of the community.
Heslop’s mother, Theresa, had earlier testified that because of the negative comments about her son during his bail application, particularly him being referred to as a menace to society, she had approached Snyman for help.
She said the petition was his idea. On Tuesday, Snyman admitted to writing the letters and that he did so after receiving information from the community. He said he did not know Heslop personally.
Snyman testified that the Wentworth community was divided. He initially received complaints from the community about the number of guns in the area, referring to there being many random shootings.
On both occasions, Snyman said he was mandated by the community to write a letter. He said he was approached by Heslop’s sister and mother and wrote a letter based on their statements.
Argument for Heslop’s sentencing continues on Thursday.
Daily News