Barney’s antics force judge to boot him from court

THE SEAT occupied by George “Barney” Peters in the dock remained empty this week after he was instructed that his court case would continue in his absence due to his disruptive conduct.

He declined an offer to return to his trial on Monday as court proceedings entered their third week in the Northern Cape High Court.

Peters and his co-accused – Britney Arends, Stephanie McAnda, Simone Rose, Chinaaz Mentoor, Abigail van Wyk, Chane Adams, Michael Peters, Clive Peters, Deon May, Pamerston Mentoor, Henry Blom, Vincent Rosen, Tshepo Malambi, Nico Hofuza and Shawn Smith – are facing 117 charges, including murder, attempted murder, gang activity, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, discharge of a firearm in a built-up area, public violence, money laundering, racketeering, defeating the ends of justice, assault, kidnapping, fraud, and dealing in drugs.

Court proceedings were delayed when Peters indicated that he was in pain, whereupon arrangements were made for him to consult the district surgeon.

After the postponement, he stated that he was not ill enough to see a doctor but was experiencing “great emotional pain and suffering”.

“I have pain because of my operations and I am diabetic. I am on my knees so that my human rights can be respected,” he said.

He paced up and down and defied the instructions of Judge Almé Stanton and heavily armed guards to be seated and to keep quiet.

“I can’t concentrate – my rights are being violated,” he stated.

Stanton warned him that she would not allow him to hold the court hostage.

Peters threatened that the case would not continue until he was allowed to see his children.

“Is it too much to ask? I have spent four years in jail, so I am patient. Let the case be postponed until I see my children. The police have many vehicles – they can fetch them and bring them to court. I want to see them through the court television screens. No one takes me seriously. There is no evidence against me; I can’t sit in court and listen to stories.”

He complained that the “beret police” were escorting him like a “dangerous man”.

“I am an ordinary citizen. I am not a gang leader; I do not belong to any gang. I just want to know what I have done. Can I please leave? I don’t have time for this. Let the case rather continue without me. When will I ever start living my life?”

His legal representative, Vasiliki Patrinos, indicated that there was friction between her client and one of his co-accused, Deon May.

“Peters does not feel safe in his presence and is separated from him in prison. They are also transported separately,” she said.

She asked the court to show compassion to Peters as he was in a “state of devastation” and longing to catch a glimpse of his children.

State and defence find Peters' requests unreasonable 

With the exception of one of the accused, Michael Peters, who expressed sympathy for Barney’s plight, the defence advocates stated that their clients were being prejudiced by unnecessary delays.

They pointed out that the State was incurring wasted costs by funding legal representatives appointed by Legal Aid South Africa.

They also noted that permission had to be obtained from each child to determine whether they wished to see their father, while social workers had to facilitate the process under the supervision of their grandparents or guardians.

The defence indicated that their clients did not wish to put their children, whom they share with Peters, through the trauma of bringing them to court.

Gang-related and racketeering charge

Meanwhile, Samuel Gewers, a resident of Roodepan flats, testified on Wednesday that on June 17, 2021, at around 10.30pm, he was awoken by his wife as there was a commotion of people swearing and using vulgar language outside their home.

“My wife and I had to scramble to pull our children and grandchildren off the bed when I heard more than five gunshots fired next door. We took cover against the wardrobe when bullets flew through our bathroom window. The window was completely damaged, and a bullet damaged my Dixon speaker.

“I heard a woman saying ‘let’s get away, the boere [the police] are on their way’ before I heard people running down the stairs. I peered through the bedroom window and saw them running across the road to where a minibus was parked.”

He said his neighbour, Demeon Lyndon Hannie, stated: “Hulle sal k*k [they will be in trouble]; they shot at a big man’s house – you know where I stay.”

According to the charges, the accused intended to kill Hannie as he was an associate of a rival gang member.

After the shots were fired by the male members, it is alleged that the firearms were handed to the female members of the group, who were arrested in Lerato Park.

The weapons were later found at the back of a police van.

The case continues.