Guest house murder co-accused says he was ‘misled and used’
A CO-ACCUSED linked to the shooting incident at Atlantis Guest House in Kimberley, which resulted in the death of the son of the owner of the business, said he was misled and used after an event that he thought was a simple “spin” went horribly wrong.
Marlin Koopman this week testified in the Northern Cape High Court, where he stands accused, along with Derrick Fyfers, of the fatal shooting of Ashwin Malan, the son of the owner of the guest house, on September 8, 2014.
The two men are facing further charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
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Koopman, during his testimony, fingered Fyfers as the mastermind behind the incident and said that he merely went along with the plan in order to make some money.
He said the plan of a “spin” at a guest house was pitched to him by a friend and Fyfers.
Contrary to Fyfers’ testimony stating that he only arrived in Kimberley on September 4, Koopman said that Fyfers was already in Kimberley on September 2, 2014.
“I met Fyfers on September 2, 2014, when I was introduced to him as well as his friend whom I know as Oupa. He and Oupa were staying at my mother-in-law’s house. I stay in the backyard in the shanty with my girlfriend, Kim,” said Koopman.
“When I woke up on Saturday, I found that they had left. I did not ask much about it. I saw Fyfers again on Thursday, September 8. Rahjendra Beukes was at my mother-in-law’s house and was waiting for my girlfriend’s brother to cut his hair. I offered to cut his hair … While I was busy cutting Beukes’ hair, Fyfers and my mother-in-law walked into the shanty.
“Fyfers asked whose bakkie it was and I told him it was Beukes’ bakkie. He asked Beukes for a lift to the guest house as he did not sleep well at my mother-in-law’s house. Beukes agreed and said he must just put diesel into the bakkie.
“Later that evening, myself, my girlfriend and our baby went to bed. I left Beukes with Fyfers, Oupa and my brother-in-law, where they smoked dagga in my brother-in-law’s shanty. Later that night, I was woken up my girlfriend saying there was someone knocking on the door. I could hear it was Beukes, who said he had something to tell me. I opened the door and Fyfers was standing with him. I told them to get inside the shanty as the baby was asleep.
“Inside, Beukes told me that Fyfers had a spin of televisions and a generator at a guest house. I told Beukes that I was not feeling well, but he insisted that I should come with. Fyfers said there was some money for us to get as he already had a buyer for the things. I then went with them as I was unemployed and my child needed nappies.”
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Koopman said he found Levert van Wyk and Oupa already in the bakkie.
He said Fyfers told Beukes to hoot and someone at the guest house will open the gate from the inside.
He added that when inside, things started to unravel fast.
“Fyfers said we must go to the right and he will go to the left to see if the things are safe. I am not sure where Fyfers went, but he and Oupa were no longer by the bakkie. Beukes went to talk to the lady (the receptionist) and Van Wyk also went closer. I also went closer and saw Fyfers going to the power box. Fyfers jumped onto a wall and switched off the power. He then grabbed the lady around the neck. It was dark and Fyfers pulled the lady inside.”
Koopman said he was under the impression that the woman was their “inside man” and could not understand why she was screaming that she did not have any money.
“I went closer to the door (of the room) where Fyfers dragged the lady into and could hear her say that there was no money. I could see something was not right as I was under the impression that we were just going to load things, but could see that it was a robbery,” said Koopman.
“Beukes went to start the bakkie and I saw it driving off. The next moment I heard a shot go off and I ran and jumped onto the bakkie. As we drove out of the premises, I heard three more shots go off.
“Beukes and I drove a distance from the guest house when it dawned on us that we had left Van Wyk. We turned back and drove in the direction of the guest house but saw a white vehicle driving into the premises. We then drove past the guest house, heading to Galeshewe. We drove to the shopping complex in Barkly Road hoping to spot Van Wyk, but we did not. We were concerned about Van Wyk. I was angry and told Beukes that we had been used.”
Koopman said he suggested that they go to his girlfriend’s house and that was when he told her what had happened.
From the house, they then again went in search of Van Wyk. It was during that time, he said, that they spotted Oupa and Fyfers.
“We saw two men approaching us. It was Oupa and Fyfers. Fyfers was holding an open gun in his hand. I told him that he had told us that we were going to pick up stolen things yet he knew what would happen. Fyers told me not to be ‘hardegat’ or he will shoot me in my glory. I noticed blood on his pants and tekkies, but made no mention of that.”
Koopman said Fyfers was the one who told them that he had to shoot someone at the guest house.
“At that time I did not know about the shooting. Fyfers said he had to shoot someone at the guest house as he had no choice because the person at the guest house held something shiny in his hand which he (Fyfers) thought was a firearm.”
Koopman added that they then went to look for Van Wyk at his house, but did not find him.
He said he walked home and later at his mother-in-law’s house he told them that Fyfers shot someone.
Koopman said he noticed Fyfers was wearing different clothes and that the bloody tekkies and pants were burnt in the yard of their house.
Koopman told the court that although Fyfers was trying to convince the court that he was being used as a scapegoat, Fyfers needed to take responsibility for his actions.
The matter continues in the Northern Cape High Court.
