Court rebuffs S.A. Minister

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 6

Court rebuffs S.A. Minister

NZPA-Reuter Pretoria

A South African Supreme Court judge has dismissed an application ,by the Minister of Law . and Order (Mr Louis le Grange) to exclude as evidence at, an inquest a statement by a white trade unionist, Neil Aggett, 14 hours before his death in police custody. Judge C. F. Eloff said that it would not be “irregular" to admit the statement, in which Dr Aggett alleged that the police had beaten him and used electric shock torture, as documentary evidence to the inquest, which is due to resume today. The inquest was postponed, after a lawyer for. the Aggett family had tried to read the statement at the hearing, so that the Supreme Court could decide its validity as eyidence.<~■

In the Supreme Court a lawyer for Mr le Grange said the submitting of the statement as evidence would amount to “unjustified prejudice” because it could not be tested under crossexamination.

The lawyer, B. J. Schabort. also cited the national and “State security" interest, especially since the working methods and techniques of the security police would be disclosed.

But George Bizos, for the Aggett family, said it was inconceivable that the statement should not be read in Court.

In the statement Dr Aggett said he had been assaulted and given electric shock treatment through handcuffs while being held by the security police at interrogation headquarters in Johannesburg. : "