Pretoria - A 21-year-old man, whose nose was partially ripped off during a fight in a White River bar in Mpumalanga, is claiming R7 million in damages from a security company, two security guards and the police.
Brian Barnard’s face was left disfigured after a fight on the night of November 15, 2013, at Bahati sports bar.
Part of Barnard’s nose ended up in the bar’s parking lot and was retrieved the following day by his cousin.
Doctors spent three hours mending his nose.
Barnard is claiming the damages in the high court in Pretoria, saying that he was now not only permanently disfigured, but he still endured severe pain and suffering.
Barnard said he and his friends were visiting the bar when a fight broke out after members of J&M Business Security and the police’s highway patrol had stormed the bar, looking for an armed robber.
Barnard said he was hit with a handgun in the face, as well as across his body.
He was then forcefully dragged outside to the parking lot where he was again assaulted.
He claimed that security officers Werner and Shaun Terblanche were among those who assaulted him.
Barnard said the assault took place in the presence of the patrons and the police who did nothing to stop it or to protect him.
His nose was partially ripped off during the fracas, hurting his sinuses.
He also suffered facial scarring and a fracture to his right cheekbone.
Barnard said he had to undergo several operations and will have to receive further medical treatment in future.
He denied he was part of a gang of robbers and said he had had no idea that there were robbers in the pub.
The police simply denied the allegations that they did nothing to protect Barnard that night.
The security company and the two guards, on the other hand, admitted the fight, but said they, at the time, suspected Barnard of being part of a robbery gang.
They said a robbery had occurred in the Lydenburg area earlier that day, where the owners of a farm were robbed of a shotgun, revolver and a vehicle.
The security company was alerted and asked to be on the lookout for the robbers, who were travelling in the stolen vehicle.
The security company said it was later informed that the vehicle was parked in front of the Bahati Sports Bar and it was believed the occupants were inside.
They went to the bar and confronted the suspects, who they claimed included Barnard.
According to the security guards, they asked Barnard to go outside with them but he refused.
They said he became aggressive and attacked them.
They, in turn, had to defend themselves.
The guards claimed Barnard injured himself and only had himself to blame for the injuries he had suffered.
The damages claim will be heard later, as three third party companies also cited in the matter, still had to deliver their defence.
Barnard’s lawyer, Greyling Erasmus said they would ask Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba to allocate a special date for the trial.
Pretoria News