Second hell for family as son dies

Six years ago the Bedford family of Pretoria went through hell when a son killed his mother and was convicted of her murder.

On Thursday disaster struck again when the same son, Charles, and his brother Gerald were involved in an accident with a bus.

Gerald, 19, died and Charles, 23, is fighting for his life in hospital.

The two brothers were on a motorcycle in Van Ryneveld Avenue, in Pierre van Ryneveld, at about 1pm, when the accident happened.

It was unclear by Thursday night who had been riding.

According to Netcare 911 spokesman Jeff Wicks, it appeared a bus slowed for traffic near Hans Strijdom Drive.

“The two riding the motorcycle were unable to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the bus,” he said.

Badly injured Gerald’s condition deteriorated rapidly and, according to Wicks, he went into cardiac arrest. He had severe head and chest injuries.

“Paramedics intubated him and placed him on a manual ventilator at the scene,” Wicks added.

However, the young man died soon after arriving at hospital.

Police spokesman Captain Malose Mashiane said it appeared the brothers had fallen off the bike when they collided with the bus.

He said Charles had suffered multiple injuries, including to his leg, chest, neck and arms, and was in a critical condition in Unitas Hospital.

A case of culpable homicide was opened.

Charles was in the news earlier for his mother’s death, although he could not be identified at that stage as he was still a minor. Aged 16 then, he was arrested in April, 2004 after his mother was stabbed three times with a knife.

A former Hoërskool Waterkloof pupil, he apparently had a heated argument with her in the family’s Elardus Park home.

Charles ran to a friend’s house afterwards. His father discovered the body when he returned from work.

The mother was stabbed twice in the chest and once in the back.

Police said at that time that the child was wearing his blood-spattered school uniform when he was arrested. The blooded knife was discovered in the family’s house.

It is believed his friend’s parents had found him and notified the police.

Appearing in the Pretoria Juvenile Court, the then teenager was granted bail of R1 000 and released into the custody of a priest. It is believed that he had confessed to the same priest about the murder before his arrest.

In March, 2005, the matter was struck from the court roll, as after numerous postponements on the State’s request, they still had no instructions from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The case was later placed on the court roll again and Charles pleaded guilty to murder. He was given a correctional supervision sentence. - Pretoria News