Knysna Lawyer shooting tragedy: Matter adjourned

The Northern Cape farmer accused of shooting and killing two of his friends who had been visiting him made an appearance in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Tuesday 7 November 2023).

59-year-old Japie Claassens faces two counts of murder following a shooting tragedy on his smallholding in Vioolsdrif on Monday (30 October 2023) at around 4.30am. Claassens, who handed himself over to police, allegedly claimed he thought his friends were burglars, this despite them being fast asleep. The victims Knysna Lawyer Coenie De Beer and Overberg Farmer James Kriel succumbed to their injuries in hospital 2 days later.

The matter was adjourned to next week Tuesday (14 November 2023) for a formal bail application. The state will be opposing this.

The accused will remain custody.