Krejcir: Judge may have erred in his ruling, says defence
Radovan Krejcir and five co-accused are applying for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences for kidnapping in the South Gauteng High Court.
In August, the six men were found guilty of kidnapping and torturing Bheki Lukhele after his brother disappeared with a consignment of 25-kilograms of crystal meth.
Krejcir and Desai Luphondo were sentenced to 35 years in prison and four of the co-accused received 15 years for drug dealing, kidnapping and attempted murder counts.
The defence for all six accused stated that Judge Collin Lamont may have erred in his judgment and that another court may come to a different conclusion.
On the drug dealing charge the defence pointed out that the state failed to prove the accused knew the type of drug or that they intended to sell it.
On the attempted murder charge, the defence said there was no evidence proving that there was an intention to kill Lukhele.
Krejcir's lawyer, James Grant, said his client was denied a fair trial, because he had to represent himself for most of the sentencing proceedings.
Furthermore, Grant said the fact that Krejcir was cuffed and chained during sentencing might have led to the perception that Krejcir was dangerous and this could have affected the sentencing.
(File photo: Gallo Images)