The family of Burry Stander, the South African cyclist who finished fifth in the mountain bike event at the London 2012 Olympics, fear that the taxi driver charged with culpable homicide following his death last January may never stand trial after a magistrate refused a request from prosecutors for more time to consider whether to prosecute.
Stander, aged 25, was killed instantly when he was struck by a taxi said to have been driven 24-year-old Njabulo Nyawose while returning home from a training ride in his home city of Port Elizabeth.
Prosecutors this week asked for three more weeks from magistrates to allow them to consider whether to press ahead with a case against Nyawose, reports South African news website, Independent Online.
The request was refused, with magistrate Piet Coetzee pointing out that it had already been postponed on three occasions.
The newspaper reports that prosecutors were unable to provide a satisfactory response when asked why they had already requested – and been granted – three postponements previously, and were now asking for a fourth.
Stander’s widow, Cherise, said: “The system is failing us, I don’t know what to do.
“From what I know the State has a strong case. It has been six months, they should have had enough time. I am very worried that the case will get thrown out.”
According to Independent Online, she had not been updated by prosecutors regarding how the case was progressing, and only heard about the latest developments in the case through the press.
“I thought about going, but to sit there and face the accused, I don’t know what I would do,” she commented.
“Someone must be held accountable for Burry’s death. It is not only about Burry, it is that an innocent life was taken and we expected a fair trial.”
Duane Stander, Burry’s brother, criticised the failure to bring a prosecution against the driver, saying: “People drive however they want on our roads. Someone lost their life and no one is being held responsible.
“Justice is not going to be served. It is disappointing and sad,” he added.
A spokeswoman for South Africa’s Director of Public Prosecutions explained: “A decision could not be made in the allocated time frame.”
I'm old enough to remember when you could buy an end of season pro bike for 1500 GBP (it's not that long ago).
Madness, isn't it? ...
Watch out for toe overlap (front wheel clearance) with midfoot cleats,
Maybe the community service. The regret seems genuine. But 12 months? What's wrong with 5 year bans, in this and so many other cases. Indeed in...
"So now you're saying that being in that family - even by marriage - makes you more likely to commit a traffic offence?"...
Will those wide rim brake models fit inside a shimano 40-49mm brake caliper with 28mm max clearance??? Gonna be a squeeze...
The fact is that many have who have relied on the extra business BTW brings in but then find they cannot cover their overhead with significantly...
I'd be even more concerned about the effect it may have on whether the helmet can still do its job in the event of an impact....
Even if true, it's not an essential flaw in the argument, because the whole thing about shared spaces was merely an aside to the argument.
I think someone at the office has pulled a prank on less informed road.cc reviewers: First a review of Effetto Mariposa's helmet liners and now a...