Francesca Villette
TRIAL proceedings at Strand Magistrate’s Court were interrupted when Genevive Grant, broke down as she recalled what happened on the night her friend, Jake Wootton, was killed.
Grant, 18, testified yesterday at the trial of Schalk Lubbe, the man who allegedly drove the car that hit and killed Wootton on April 4, 2012.
Lubbe is charged with culpable homicide and driving under the influence. He pleaded not guilty.
Grant testified that on that night, she and Wootton had been out with friends at a pub in Hermanus, drinking and having a “good time”.
She said that at about 11.30pm they decided to walk back to her house when she heard Lubbe’s car speeding behind them along Dirkie Uys Street.
“Our group split up and Wootton was walking about 5m ahead of me on the other side of the road. I heard a speeding, revving noise coming from behind. There was no time to read into what was happening. It all happened so quickly,” said Grant.
She said she then saw the car hit Wootton. He was flung into the air.
“He landed in the gutter, next to the road.
“I ran to see if he was okay. There was blood coming from his nose. I wanted to lift him, but a friend said I shouldn’t, as he (Wootton) might have injured his spine,” said Grant.
She said she then called an ambulance, but the operator had told her someone was already on the way.
Grant became emotional for a second time and magistrate Francine Mouton asked lawyer Nazlee Abdeljaoued not to go into detail about the injuries Grant had witnessed.
Defence lawyer Marius Broeksma asked Grant how much she had to drink that night.
Broeksma said he had proof that Grant, 16 at the time, had drunk from a fish bowl, containing vodka, cane and other white spirits.
“I hate to have to ask you this, but is it possible that you had too much to drink and might not recall exactly what happened that night?” he asked.
Grant denied being intoxicated and said she was able to remember what happened.
Doctor Akmal Khan, the second witness called to testify, said Wootton died as result of a brain haemorrhage.
“Wootton had fractured the back of his skull.
As a result of trauma and swelling, his brain pushed against his skull. That caused his death,” said Khan.
He said bruises to the left side of his body proved Wootton was walking on the right-hand side of the road at the time of the incident. “On impact, the deceased was swooped up into the air and hit the ground. That was when he fractured his skull,” said Khan.
Wootton was found lying on the side of the road, his head in the gutter.
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of Wootton’s death.
Lubbe’s trial continues today.