Rugby attackers back in court
Four men accused of beating a former Royal Marine to death outside a rugby match in Durban are expected to stand trial in the Durban Regional Court on Monday.
The trial was set down for March 10 to 14, National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said last year after a previous appearance of the four.
Brothers Blayne and Kyle Shepard, Andries van der Merwe, and Dustin van Wyk each face one charge of murder, three of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, and one of crimen injuria.
Ramkisson-Kara said charges against a fifth accused, Grant Cramer, were dropped due to a lack of evidence linking him to the crime.
He had faced one count of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Former Royal Marine Brett Williams was killed at a Super XV match in Durban in March last year.
The four accused are out on bail of R5000 each.
At their appearance in June 2013, prosecutor Krishen Shah said Williams allegedly had an altercation with Cramer outside the stadium on the night of March 23.
Cramer had a choke-hold on Williams and he lost consciousness, Shah told the court. Paramedics revived him, but the other four allegedly kicked and punched him in a second altercation later.
Paramedics were unable to revive Williams again, and he was declared dead at the scene.
-Sapa