Botho Molosankwe
THE TAXI driver who dragged a woman under his vehicle for about 700 metres claims he was fleeing for his life.
The man’s lawyer, advocate Oliver Moeti, told the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday that he had knocked downed Kim McCusker and dragged her under his taxi while trying to escape from her fiancé, Lawrence Grobler, who had assaulted him.
The 31-year-old Diepsloot taxi driver has been charged with attempted murder. He has also laid a charge of assault against Grobler.
McCusker and Grobler were on their way to gym on Tuesday morning when Thamage’s taxi bumped into their Corsa bakkie on Lonehill Boulevard.
Grobler told security guards that he had got out of the car at the four-way stop on Concourse Crescent to speak to Thamage. McCusker also got out of the car and stood in front of the taxi.
A guard said Thamage had then driven off and knocked the 25-year-old advocate off her feet. Her clothes were caught on the taxi, and Thamage dragged her for about 700m. Bystanders tried to stop him, but he drove on.
By the time Thamage stopped, McCusker was badly injured.
Yesterday,
prosecutor Khutso Ramaselele told magistrate Vince Pienaar that Grobler had confronted Thamage about his driving, and that had sparked the incident.
Ramaselele said he had been instructed to oppose bail.
Moeti said Thamage had been trying to get away from further assault and argued that he should be granted bail.
Thamage’s counsel pointed to blood on Thamage’s shirt as proof of an assault. He said Grobler had stopped his car and banged on his client’s window and assaulted him.
“He (Grobler) also choked him using his hands. The taxi driver then got into gear to drive away. The complainant (McCusker) then got hooked on the taxi,” Moeti said.
“The charge concomitant with the facts has to be reckless and negligent driving.
“The accused was trying to flee for his life. He must be released on bail.” Moeti said Thamage could afford R1 000 bail.
Pienaar said the case before him related to attempted murder as well as reckless and negligent driving and that Thamage would have to make a formal bail application.
There was support for McCusker on The Star’s Facebook page yesterday. A reader calling himself Wan wrote: “The government should just wipe out these lawless, ruthless taxi drivers.” Another, called Sipo, said: “Bring back the death penalty.” But someone going by the username LordXerxses
said: “She will never stand in front of a taxi again.”
The matter will be back in court on September 21.