I was fleeing assault, says taxi driver

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Willem Hijbeek, centre, uncle of Kim McCusker, at the Randburg Magistrates Court. Photo: Antoine de Ras

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The taxi driver who dragged a woman under his vehicle for about 700m claims he was fleeing for his life.

The man’s lawyer, advocate Oliver Moeti, told the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday he had knocked downed Kim McCusker and dragged her under his taxi while trying to escape from her fiancé, Lawrence Grobler, who had assaulted him.

The 31-year-old Diepsloot taxi driver has been charged with attempted murder. He has also laid a charge of assault against Grobler.

McCusker and Grobler, who have been engaged for two weeks, were on their way to gym on Tuesday morning when Thamage’s taxi bumped into their Corsa bakkie on Lonehill Boulevard.

Grobler told security guards at the scene that he had got out of the car at the four-way stop on Concourse Crescent to speak to Thamage. McCusker also got out of the car and stood in front of the taxi.

A guard said Thamage had then driven off and knocked the 25-year-old advocate off her feet. Her clothes were caught on the taxi and Thamage dragged her for about 700m. Bystanders tried to stop him, but he drove on.

By the time Thamage stopped and McCusker was freed, she was badly injured, and a trail of blood stretched behind her.

On Wednesday, Thamage leant against the railing of the dock and sat up only when the court orderly told him to. He was wearing a dirty white shirt with specks of blood on the right sleeve.

Prosecutor Khutso Ramaselele told magistrate Vince Pienaar that Grobler had confronted Thamage about his driving and that had sparked the incident.

Ramaselele said he had been instructed to oppose bail.

Moeti said Thamage was trying to get away from further assault and argued that he should be granted bail.

Thamage’s counsel pointed to the blood on Thamage’s shirt as proof of an assault.

He said Grobler had stopped his car and banged on his client’s window and assaulted him.

“He (Grobler) also choked him using his hands. The taxi driver then got into gear to drive away.

“The complainant (McCusker) then got hooked on the taxi as he (Thamage) drove away,” Moeti said.

“The charge concomitant with the facts has to be reckless and negligent driving.

“The accused was trying to flee for his life. He must be released on bail in the interest of justice.”

Moeti added that Thamage could afford R1 000 bail.

Pienaar said the case before him related to attempted murder – a schedule 5 offence – as well as reckless and negligent driving.

Thamage would have to make a formal bail application because of the attempted murder charge, he said.

McCusker’s uncle, Willem Hijbeek, described his niece as an extremely pretty girl, who loves animals. She and Grobler were set to marry in February.

Simultaneously, there was widespread support for McCusker on The Star’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

A reader, who styled himself Wan, wrote: “The government should just wipe out these lawless ruthless taxi drivers and provide cheap alternatives..sigh.. we all hate them, we – white, black, brown, yellow, purple, green people”

Another, who called himself Sipo, said: “Bring back the death penalty, it is high time that we make a spectacle out of this guy.”

Someone going by the username LordXerxses was one of the few to go against sentiments on the page.

“She will never stand in front of a taxi again,” LordXerxses suggested.

The matter will be back in court on September 21.