-Caveat Lector- Farmer who Killed Black Baby Sentenced in South Africa Case AP 23-MAR-99 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- A white farmer convicted of fatally shooting a black baby walked free Tuesday with a suspended sentence, provoking more outrage in a case that has highlighted racial divisions in South Africa. After a white judge pronounced sentence, police loaded Nicholas Steyn into an armored vehicle for his own protection as scores of blacks protested outside the courthouse of a small town east of Johannesburg. Shouts of "Kill the farmer! Kill the Boer! Unfair!" erupted inside the court building in Delmas. Boer is a reference to Afrikaners, the descendants of Dutch colonists. Outside, soldiers and police pointed automatic rifles to keep the crowd at bay. The killing of 6-month-old Angelina Zwane last April drew frequent protests and even condemnation from President Nelson Mandela and other government figures. They said the shooting was evidence that racism still existed in South Africa, even though apartheid ended with the country's first all-race election in 1994. Steyn, 42, was convicted March 4 of culpable homicide and assault. He had been charged with murder and attempted murder for firing shots as three black children, one of them carrying the baby, crossed a field near Johannesburg. A bullet fatally struck Angelina and then lodged in the back of the infant's cousin, 11-year-old Francina Dlamini. Justice Minister Dullah Omar expressed "shock" at the five-year suspended sentence handed down by Magistrate Tjibbe Spoelstra. He ordered the head of the magistrate's court to produce a report on the case. A spokesman for Omar said the minister could then refer the matter to the national prosecutor, who has the power to reopen the case. "It hurts" that Steyn is free, said Angelina's mother, Violet Dlamini. Local African National Congress officials said they would file a civil suit against Steyn, and that the family would push for an appeal of the sentence by the state. Steyn said he fired only as a warning, and claimed South African news media distorted what happened. A forensic expert testifying for Steyn said the bullet that struck Angelina had ricocheted off a telephone pole. Sibusiso Gamede, national director of the Black Lawyers Association, blasted the sentence as a "serious joke." "It tells me the justice system needs a serious transformation, especially if you find people who think the life of a black person is worth nothing," he said. "If it was a black man who had killed a white person, he would have been given a life sentence." Although he didn't refer specifically to Spoelstra, Gamede said the case was a reminder of the high number of apartheid-era judges remaining in the judiciary, particularly in the lower magistrate's court. It was there that day-to-day apartheid was enforced. Copyright 1999& The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
