Shot man’s family sues Briton for N$84m

Boulter is being sued by the widow of his farm manager, the late Gerhard van Wyk, the two children of Van Wyk and one of the children's wives, for a total amount of N$84,5 million, in a case that is pending in the Windhoek High Court.In their lawsuit against Boulter and his company SX Investments One, Van Wyk's widow, Alta van Wyk, his son, Gerhard van Wyk Jr, daughter, Michelle van Wyk, and Van Wyk Jr's wife, Liani van Wyk, accuse Boulter of intentionally, alternatively wrongfully and negligently, causing Van Wyk's death.Alta van Wyk, Gerhard van Wyk Jr and Liani van Wyk are claiming that as a result of the shooting that ended Van Wyk's life, they lost their employment with SX Investments One and the income they would have been receiving through this employment until they reach the age of retirement.Boulter is opposing the claim against himself and the company.He said yesterday: “We are most certainly defending it. And it will be a very robust defence.”He added: “I've got full faith in the Namibian judicial system.”Gerhard van Wyk Sr (54) died on 27 February last year, after he had been shot in the abdomen during an altercation with Boulter at the Outjo district farm Kaross, where Boulter is farming with game.The same bullet that struck Van Wyk also hit Boulter in his left hand.Van Wyk died while being transported to Outjo for medical treatment.Boulter, who has said the shooting was accidental and that it took place when Van Wyk tried to grab a pistol from his hands, is charged with counts of murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence, and handling a firearm while under the influence of intoxicating liquor in connection with the incident.His case was this week transferred from the Kamanjab Magistrate's Court to the Windhoek High Court, where he is due to attend a first pretrial hearing on 19 May.In their claim against Boulter, Van Wyk's wife, children and daughter-in-law say they depended entirely on the income they received from Van Wyk and their employment with Boulter's company.Gerhard van Wyk was employed by SX Investments One as a farm and game reserve manager from February 2013, while Alta van Wyk was employed as a co-manager from the same time, and each of them received a monthly salary of N$27 500, it is said in the claim filed at the court.Gerhard van Wyk Jr was employed by the company at a monthly salary of N$15 500 from December 2014, according to the claim, while his wife, Liani, started working for the company at the start of January last year, with a monthly salary of N$10 000.The plaintiffs are alleging that the company unlawfully terminated Alta van Wyk's employment at the start of September last year.According to Gerhard van Wyk Jr and Liani van Wyk, Boulter made their working conditions at his farm “intolerable” through the killing of Van Wyk Sr, and they were “forced to abandon” their employment for fear of their lives at the end of April 2021.Alta van Wyk is suing Boulter and his company for a total amount of N$49,9 million –including nearly N$32,8 million for loss of support from her husband and N$16 million in general damages.Gerhard van Wyk Jr is suing Boulter and the company for N$22,6 million. This includes a claim of N$15,5 million in respect of loss of support and N$6 million for general damages.Van Wyk's daughter, Michelle van Wyk, who says she was dependent on her father's financial support while studying at the University of Namibia, is claiming N$8 million from Boulter and SX Investments One, while Liani van Wyk is claiming N$3,9 million.Each of the four plaintiffs' claims include an amount of N$1 million for “the intolerable living conditions” they say they are subjected to since the fatal shooting.In a notice filed at the court this week, Boulter is demanding that each of the plaintiffs should provide N$350 000 as security for his legal costs in the event that they lose the case. The company is demanding N$300 000 in security for legal costs from each of the plaintiffs.The case was yesterday postponed to 19 May.

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