Cape Town - A UK man living in Hout Bay appeared in court on Wednesday after he allegedly spat in the face of a Constantia woman during an altercation over a parking spot.
Colin Berger, who hails from Manchester in the UK, has been charged with assault and crimen injuria. He appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Berger has been cited for allegedly verbally abusing and assaulting Khadija Mohamed, 59, at Constantia Village shopping centre on Friday, January 9. Mohamed made a formal complaint at Diep River police station on the day of the incident.
She told the Cape Times on Wednesday that she had approached a parking space outside the shopping centre after noticing another driver struggling to get out.
“I saw the person was struggling and waited. I indicated and the parking assistant helped the driver out.
“Once the vehicle had moved out, I pulled in. Then I heard a knock on my window – it was a woman who told me she had also been waiting for the parking spot.
“I told her I was sorry, I didn’t see her waiting. She then said it was okay, and I then walked towards the entrance of the shopping centre.
“On my way there, a big Mercedes-Benz pulled up next to me and Mr Berger, who was driving, began shouting at me.
“He said ‘you f****** b****, you f****** cow, you stole my parking. You better f****** watch it. I’m going to smash your car’.
“I got so scared that I just kept on walking. I went inside and did my business, and then came out again. When I got to my car, he was waiting there for me. He started taking photos of me with his phone and said he was going to expose me on Facebook.
“He then followed me and started pointing at me and putting his finger in my face. All the while he was being verbally abusive.
“He put his finger in my face again and I hit it away, saying: ‘Don’t you f****** touch me’. Then he spat in my face. By then people had gathered and after he noticed this, he walked away. I got into my car and left. Feeling rattled, I went to report it to the police.
And while Berger’s appearance in court on Wednesday was brief, nodding as the judge postponed the trial until March 17, it wasn’t the end.
Berger has also filed charges against Mohamed’s nephew Rehan for allegedly following him home and confronting him after the alleged altercation.
Berger’s lawyer, André du Toit, told the Cape Argus there would be more “juicy developments” in the case.
“(Berger) is planning to file counter charges against (Mohamed), the exact same charges she has filed against him.”
He said the case, as a whole, was frivolous and a waste of the court’s time.
“This is all just about egos… If it makes it to trial I will be surprised.”
Police confirmed that an assault case was registered at the Diep River Police Station. Spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said: “The case was for using vulgar language and intimidation.”
After his client’s court appearance, Berger’s lawyer said the case stemmed from “a stolen parking bay”.
Du Toit said it was still uncertain what the police’s case against his client was because the police docket would only be made available next month.
Cape Times and Cape Argus