A Delft family was left angry and disappointed after learning their teen son’s alleged killers were released on R1000 bail.
The devastated family of Qashiem Burton, 16, arrived at Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday hoping to get answers but instead were sent away by the prosecutor.
The Grade 8 learner from Voorbrug High School was stabbed on 21 December following an argument over a girl.
KILLED: Qashiem Burton, 16
Dad Gabieboedien, 41, claims one of the suspected killers, Darryl Burton, 19, had looked him in the eye and said: “I am going to make your son vrek.”
“Qashiem was at a party in Bellevue Road where we live. Darryl got into a fight with my son’s friend about a girl,” the dad says.
‘Apparently Darryl’s ex-girlfriend was now with my son’s friend and that is where the arguments
started.
“Qashiem stood up for his friend and there was a fight so I intervened and told them to leave these things.
“Qashiem went to sleep by his friend’s house down the road but later there was another argument and he [Darryl] told me he is going to make my son vrek.”
FURY: Dad Gabieboedien
Soon afterwards, a neighbour informed the family that they saw three men, including Darryl, running towards the house where Qashiem was sleeping, and they found the teen unconscious in the doorway.
“They stabbed him in the head and in the back. We rushed him to Tygerberg Hospital but the doctors told us he was brain dead and we were forced to switch off the machines.
“We couldn’t believe his young life was cut short over such nonsense,” the hartseer dad says.
SUSPECT: Darryl Burton, 19, and victim ‘had fight over a girl’
Darryl and Moegamat Sedick Jappie, 19, were charged with murder and appeared in Bellville Magistrates’ Court where they were granted R1000 bail each
Qashiem’s family wanted to ask the prosecutor why bail was granted and why the state did not oppose bail but were told they “were not allowed to”.
The case was postponed to 21 May.
Gabieboedien says during the bail hearing, the investigating officer did not even pitch for court adding that R1000 bail is “ridiculous”.