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The Supreme Court of Appeals on Friday overturned the conviction and sentence of two northwest farmers who were convicted of killing a teenager in a high-profile case in Coligny, in the northwest.
The two farmers, Phillip Schutte and Pieter Doorewaard, were charged with killing Matlhomola Mosweu in April 2017, after he was allegedly caught stealing sunflower heads. But now they are out of the woods after the Supreme Court ruling.
The civil rights organization AfriForum, which funded the appeal case, has welcomed the acquittal.
“We are very grateful for the acquittal of Schutte and Doorewaard. AfriForum has said from the beginning that the only witness from the state lied, and therefore the organization decided to fund the appeal request. AfriForum has covered all the costs of the appeal request because we believe in his innocence and justice was served today, ”said Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum.
In March 2019, Schutte and Doorewaard received sentences of 23 and 18 years in prison, respectively. In November last year, they were granted bail of 20,000 rand pending an appeal against their conviction and sentence.
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