Becker application dismissed

Becker application dismissed

The High Court in Pretoria on Friday dismissed an urgent application by one of the Waterkloof Four to reinstate his parole.

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Judge Sulet Potteril said after hearing argument from Christoff Becker and correctional services she could not find that the matter was urgent.

 

"The application is removed from the roll," she said.

 

Earlier, Gerrit Muller, for Becker, submitted that the matter was urgent because Becker's right to freedom has been "arbitrarily and unjustifiably infringed".

 

He said two warrants for re-arrest were issued in February and that Becker had been held unlawfully since then without appearing before a court.

 

Opposing the application, Marumo Moerane, for the correctional services department said: "[The department is] not satisfied with why it took him so long to come to court on an urgent basis.

 

"Even after he had been re-detained he commits an infringement," he submitted, alleging Becker was found to have a cellphone in his cell even though this was forbidden.

 

On February 16, Becker and Frikkie du Preez were re-arrested after footage emerged of them allegedly drinking alcohol and using a cellphone at the Kgosi Mampuru prison.

 

The video, reportedly taken on a cellphone, was posted on YouTube. It showed Du Preez and Becker drinking what appeared to be alcohol, and using a cellphone in prison.

 

Earlier in February, Becker, Du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk, and Reinach Tiedt were released after being jailed for beating a homeless man to death in Pretoria in 2001.

 

Becker, 27, said in court papers that his re-arrest in February, five days after being released on parole, was for nonsensical reasons

 

In the papers, Becker denied that alcohol was used at the party, which was video-recorded. He said pictures of Johnnie Walker and J&B whisky in the video were actually pictures on a computer screen saver.

 

He wanted the parole board to set aside the decision to revoke his parole, to be moved back to Pretoria from Kokstad prison, and to be released on parole on the same conditions as in February.

 

Becker also sought to have his re-arrest and detention declared unlawful, and for the department to pay his legal bill.

 

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