Cape Town — Convicted killer and prison escapee, Thabo Bester, made his feelings known when and his co-accused returned to the Bloemfontein High Court on Wednesday.
Bester, along with his accomplice Nandipha Magudumana, as well as seven others, returned to court as Bester awaits the outcome of the court proceedings. Bester gave the court a piece of his mind over the way he has been treated in the media, saying he does not receive the same treatment as any other inmate in the country.
“I don’t feel like I am equally treated as any other accused person in this country. First of all, you have the media that has tarnished and destroyed me on no facts. It is already confirmed that I have escaped but non one knows the true facts [sic].” he said.
“It is already confirmed that Thabo Bester is a rapist and a murderer, but there is no evidence. I pleaded guilty to the most dangerous squad, who forced me to plead guilty. It goes around as a proven fact that Thabo Bester is rapist and a murderer. I have been out for a year and there is not one charge.” he added.
[WATCH] #ThaboBester says he does not feel like he is treated equally as other accused persons, adding that he is not the worst inmate in South Africa, but he is the most popular because of the political issues he has in his personal capacity. Bester also says his co-accused have… pic.twitter.com/qdi4miATAN
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 5, 2024
Bester was forced to represent himself in court after his latest legal representatives recused themselves from the trial. He said he has been treated unfairly in a legal sense too.
“It’s very difficult for me to appoint an attorney. An attorney would say ‘I don’t want to be associated with Thabo bester because the media will attack me’. I’ve had five counsels who told me that.” he said, alleging that if attorneys were involved with him, they would not get any work.
According to IOL, he also requested that the court to consider imposing a death sentence on him and release his co-accused.
“I feel it’s unfair for these people who are sitting here as my so-called co-accused to be in court when I know very well that they have nothing to do with this.”
“Your Honour, I say this as a broken man and I say this wholeheartedly, it tears me a part to see these people in this court, knowing well that they are suffering for something they know nothing about,” he said.
Quoting legislation that has since been abolished, he requested that he be given the death penalty via a petition that will be signed by the public.
#ThaboBester is alleging that he is being treated unfairly even in the legal fraternity. He says it has been very difficult for him to appoint an attorney because they say they don’t want to be associated with “Thabo Bester” as the media will attack them, and the state will never… pic.twitter.com/aIalg81vcO
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 5, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
