A farmer allegedly stabbed a six-year-old boy for stealing an orange and broke both of his legs in front of his horrified mother in South Africa.
Christoffel Johannes Stoman, 70, appeared for the first time on Monday at the Vredendal magistrate’s court charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of reckless and negligent driving.
Stoman was arrested by Lutzville police after six-year-old Kwezi Beukes was hit by his vehicle that had a trailer while walking with his mother, Magdalene Jantijies, on September 20.
The farmer accused Khwezi of stealing an orange from his farm and as punishment, the old man allegedly knocked the boy to the ground, causing horrific injuries, including two broken legs.
Following the brutal incident, Stoman allegedly showed no remorse and told police he would “do it again.”
Christoffel Johannes Stoman, 70, appears in the Vredendal magistrate’s court accused of deliberately running over Khwezi Jantjies, a six-year-old boy.
Khwezi had both of his legs broken after allegedly stealing an orange from Stoman’s farm in Lutzville, in Vredendal, South Africa.
Khwezi’s mother, Magdalene Jantjies, watched in horror as her son was crushed by Stoman’s vehicle.
Khwezi and his mother were rushed to the local Vredendal hospital before being transferred to Paarl hospital, where the young man is receiving treatment to save his legs.
According to his heartbroken mother, he will have surgery on Wednesday.
Magdalena said she and her son had been walking around the accused farmer’s small property as they headed into town to do some food shopping. EWN reported.
The boy reportedly stopped to pick up an orange that was on the ground before trying to go through a fence and grab another one, which was also on the ground.
The distraught mother recalled the tragic incident and said she heard Stoman scream before charging at her and her son, pinning them against a fence.
Magdalena said eCNA: ‘He came from around the corner and was driving at high speed.
‘He shouted ‘stay there, stay there’, I thought he was going to stop. He pointed us directly into a corner and I screamed: Help! Aid!
“He said, ‘I’m going to kill you by running you over.'”
People protest outside the Vredendal magistrate’s court before the appearance of farmer Christoffel Stoman
Stoman allegedly told police he would “do it again” after the incident.
The case has caused a stir within the community, as locals have come forward to claim that this is not the first incident of its kind that Stoman has been involved in.
Billy Claasen of the Farm Workers and Rural Development Organization is now pleading with lawmakers to toughen consequences for farmers who commit crimes.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the State had opposed Stoman’s release.
“He will remain in custody and will appear at the Vredendal magistrate’s court on Monday,” he said.
‘The State has indicated that it will oppose bail in this case. We welcome this development.
‘We visited the crime scene and there is no way this child could have accessed the orchard through that fence.
“The suspect should answer in court for this reckless behavior.”
Magdalena said she and Khwezi would now focus on their recovery and planned to receive counseling after the traumatic event.
And he added: ‘My goal is to continue with this case. I want to proceed by the grace of God, while I can be here.’