Massacre victims’ son denies murder charges

THE third person to have been arrested in connection with the massacre in which eight people were killed on a farm between Rehoboth and Kalkrand six months ago pleaded not guilty to all charges yesterday.

Justus Christiaan (‘Shorty’) Erasmus (27), whose parents were among the eight people killed on their farm, Kareeboomkolk, on March 5, is denying all allegations against him and is putting the State to the proof thereof, his defence lawyer, Petrie Theron, told Magistrate Alweendo Venatius when Erasmus was asked to plead to 12 charges in the Mariental Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The charges that Public Prosecutor Anita Meyer put to Erasmus consist of eight counts of murder, together with charges of arson, robbery with aggravating circumstances, stock theft, and theft of a motor vehicle.Erasmus was arrested and charged ten days after his parents, Justus and Elzabé Erasmus, and six people who were staying at their farm, farmworkers Settie Swartbooi, his brother Sonnyboy Swartbooi, the latter’s pregnant wife, Hilma Engelbrecht, her and her husband’s children, Christina Engelbrecht and Regina Gertze, and a nephew of Engelbrecht, Deon Gertze, were shot dead at Kareeboomkolk.Brothers Sylvester Beukes (20) and Gavin Beukes (24) were arrested in connection with the massacre the next day.At an appearance in the Mariental Magistrate’s Court three days after their arrest, Sylvester Beukes admitted that he had carried out the mass slaying.His explanation was that he had been driven by a desire for revenge, which was fuelled by his belief that Mr Erasmus had treated him unfairly when he was employed at the Erasmus farm.However, a little over a week later, Sylvester Beukes claimed in a statement under oath that Erasmus Jr had hired him to kill his parents.Beukes’s statement prompted Erasmus Jr’s arrest.Erasmus and the Beukes brothers now have to make a return appearance in court on November 11, their case having been postponed to that date yesterday for the Prosecutor-General to take a decision on the prosecution that they are facing.Erasmus Jr remains free on bail of N$20 000.The Beukes brothers remain in Police custody.The charges that Public Prosecutor Anita Meyer put to Erasmus consist of eight counts of murder, together with charges of arson, robbery with aggravating circumstances, stock theft, and theft of a motor vehicle.Erasmus was arrested and charged ten days after his parents, Justus and Elzabé Erasmus, and six people who were staying at their farm, farmworkers Settie Swartbooi, his brother Sonnyboy Swartbooi, the latter’s pregnant wife, Hilma Engelbrecht, her and her husband’s children, Christina Engelbrecht and Regina Gertze, and a nephew of Engelbrecht, Deon Gertze, were shot dead at Kareeboomkolk.Brothers Sylvester Beukes (20) and Gavin Beukes (24) were arrested in connection with the massacre the next day.At an appearance in the Mariental Magistrate’s Court three days after their arrest, Sylvester Beukes admitted that he had carried out the mass slaying.His explanation was that he had been driven by a desire for revenge, which was fuelled by his belief that Mr Erasmus had treated him unfairly when he was employed at the Erasmus farm.However, a little over a week later, Sylvester Beukes claimed in a statement under oath that Erasmus Jr had hired him to kill his parents.Beukes’s statement prompted Erasmus Jr’s arrest.Erasmus and the Beukes brothers now have to make a return appearance in court on November 11, their case having been postponed to that date yesterday for the Prosecutor-General to take a decision on the prosecution that they are facing.Erasmus Jr remains free on bail of N$20 000.The Beukes brothers remain in Police custody.