Taxi driver guilty of killing schoolgirl
A taxi driver who in February knocked down school girl Bernadine Kruger off her scooter and then drove over her, was today found guilty of murder. The 16-year old victim’s family says they hope the judgment acts as a deterrent to other drivers.
Taxi-driver Percyval Matji, 31, found guilty of murder in the traffic-death of 16-year-old Afrikaans pupil Bernadine Kruger in Pretoria on 23 February 2009.
The court found that 31-year old Percyval Matji followed Kruger, in a loaded taxi, between lanes as she drove her scooter to school along a Pretoria road. He hooted continuously, drove at an excessive speed behind her in a road that was otherwise clear of traffic, and struck the schoolgirl's scooter right from behind.
Picture: Bernadine Kruger, who was killed by a taxi-driver while riding to school on her scooter on a near-empty eastbound dual-carriageway in Pretoria. He hit her scooter at such a high speed that Bernadine flew several metres through the air – and then he ran over her.
It was heard that Matji never reduced speed, took no evasive action and placed himself in a position where he was unable to avoid a collision with the girl. Passing judgment which lasted several hours, Magistrate Edmund Patterson said Matji's speed and his laden vehicle, made the taxi a lethal weapon. A single yes resonated in the court room as he subsequently found Matji guilty of murder, with Patterson calling Matji an evasive witness and finding that his version of events could not reasonably possibly be true.
Bernadine’s mother Elsabé Homa, says although the judgment offers her painful experience little relief, it’s better to know that the person responsible for her daughter’s death is now behind bars.
Civil rights group AfriForum supported the family and monitored the case throughout. AfriForum’s Nantes Kelder believes that the judgment will have far reaching consequences, and will serve as a deterrent to the general public. Matji's bail was increased and he now has to report to the police daily. He will be sentenced next week.
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