The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is adamant that the state has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that its leader Julius Malema discharged a fire arm in public during a rally in 2018.
Malema and his bodyguard Adriaan Snyman face charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharge of a firearm in a built-up area, failure to take reasonable precaution to person or property, and reckless endangerment to person or property. The two returned to the East London Regional Court on Monday, 9 December, for closing arguments in the trial.
WILL JULIUS MALEMA BE ACQUITTED?
The South Africanpreviously reported, in a video that was widely circulated on social media, EFF leaders could be seen dancing and singing on the stage and then Malema allegedly is seen firing the rifle into the air before he hands it over to his bodyguard Adriaan Snyman. Thereafter, Malema gives EFF then-chairperson Dali Mpofu a high five.
Roughly one month after the shooting incident, Malema denied ever having discharged a firearm. Having an explanation for video footage, he said the sounds of gunshots happened to coincide with fireworks. Malema and Snyman have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On Monday, state prosecutor advocate Joel Cesar told the court that having assessed the video footage of the incident in relation to accused number two (Snyman), the state has not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“This submission is made after a proper consolidation of the evidence in relation to the third video, which is referred to as the viral footage, coupled with submissions in the state’s further particulars,” Cesar said.
DO YOU THINK JULIUS MALEMA WILL BE ACQUITTED?
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