•poH+-5cQ| T rials RK22.)t>j.

RECORD QF INQUEST ENQUIRYDR. N. AGGETT

yOLUME IX (Judgment)3 7 0 7 )

I N Q U E S T N O . 139/82

D A T E : 2 0 t h D e c e m b e r , 19 82

IN THE M A G I S T R A T E ' S C O U R T FOR THE D I S T R I C T OF J O H A N N E S B U R G

H E L D AT J O H A N N E S U R G

B E F O R E : MR. P.A.J. K O T Z E

AND ASSESSOR: PROF. L.S. S M I T H

Inquest into the d e a t h of: N E I L H U D S O N A G G E T T

TO LEAD THE EVIDENCE : ADV. P.G. HAA5BRQEK S.C.

ADV. A. DE V R I E S

FOR THE P O L I C E : ADV. P.J. S C H A B O R T S.C.

ADV. S. B U R G E R

FOR THE A G G E T T F A M I L Y : ADV. G. B I Z O S S.C.

ADV. D. KUNY

J U D G M E N T

Nell H u d s o n Aggett, h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d to as

Dr. Aggett, died on the 5th February, 1982, in a cell in

John V o r s t e r S q u a r e Pol i c e S t a t i o n w h i l e he was in the

c u s t o d y of the S o uth A f r i c a n Police. The r e l a t i v e s of

Dr. Ag g e t t w e r e i n f o r m e d and an a t t o r n e y was a p p o i n t e d to

act on their b e h alf. Dr. B o t h a was n o m i n a t e d by th e m to

a t t e n d and did a t t e n d w h e n a D i s t r i c t S u r g e on c o n d u c t e d

a post m o r t e m e x a m i n a t i o n on the body.

The D i s t r i c t S u r g e o n ' s post m o r t e m r e p o r t was se n t 10

to the local M a g i s t r a t e and the P u b l i c P r o s e c u t o r .

C r i m i n a l p r o c e e d i n g s w e r e not i n s t i t u t e d in c o n n e c t i o n

wi t h the d eath and the P u b l i c P r o s e c u t o r s u b m i t t e d the

s t a t e m e n t s and d o c u m e n t s r e l a t i n g to the d e a t h to the

M a g i s t r a t e of J o h a n n e s b u r g . The M a g i s t r a t e d e c i d e d to hold

a for m a l I n q u e s t and n o t i c e was given. The m a t t e r was set

/ do w n - - -

d o w n for the 2nd March, 1982. On this date no e v i d e n c e

was a d duced. This o c c a s i o n was to iron out all

p r e l i m i n a r i e s and to set a date for the c o m m e n c e m e n t of

h e a r i n g e v i d e n c e . All the s t a t e m e n t s and d o c u m e n t s

s u b m i t t e d to me w e r e c o n s i d e r e d and w h e r e a p p l i c a b l e

d i r e c t i ons in t e rms of S e c t i o n 13 of the I n q u e s t Act

of 1959 we r e given. Copies of the s t a t e m e n t s w e r e h a n d e d

to the l a w y e r s a c t i n g on b e h a l f of the i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i e s .

Du r i n g the c o u r s e of the p r o c e e d i n g s a n u m b e r of a f f i d a v i t s

w e r e s u b m i t t e d to me. T h ese a f f i d a v i t s w e r e d e a l t with

s u m m a r i l y .

Mr. P.J. H a a s b r o e k , S.C. and Mr. A.P. de V r i e s

a p p e a r e d to lead the e v i d e n c e . Mr. G. Bizos, S.C. and

Mr. D.A. Kuny, i n s t r u c t e d by Bell, D ewar and Hall

appeared on b e h a l f of the f a m i l y of Dr. Agge t t . Mr. P.J.

S c h a b o r t , S.C. and Mr. S. B u r g e r i n s t r u c t e d by the D e p u t y

S t a t e Attorney, J o h a n n e s b u r g a p p e a r e d on b e h a l f of the

M i n i s t e r of Law and O r d e r and the S o u t h A f r i c a n P o l ice.

S e c t i o n 16(2) and (3) of the I n q u e s t Act, 1959

r e a d s :

"The M a g i s t r a t e h o l d i n g an I n q u e s t s h a l l r e c o r d

a f i n d i n g up o n the I n q u e s t -

(a) as to the i d e n t i t y of the d e c e a s e d person;

(b) as to the c a u s e or l i k e l y c a u s e of death;

(c) as t5 the da t e of the death;

(d) as to w h e t h e r the d e a t h was b r o u g h t a b o u t

by any act or o m i s s i o n i n v o l v i n g or a m o u n t i n g

to an o f f e n c e on the part of any person.

(3) If the M a g i s t r a t e is u n a b l e to r e c o r d any such

f i n d i n g he s h a l l r e c o r d that f a c t . "

F i f t y - t w o p e r s o n s w e r e c a l l e d to g i v e oral e v i d e n c e

ani- twenty one affidavits were accepted in proof of the facts

s t a t e d t h e r e i n in t e rms of S e c t i o n 13(1) of the I n q u e s t

Act, 1959.

J a c o b K a s p e r S t rauss, a C a p t a i n in the S outh

A f r i c a n Po l i c e and a m e m b e r of the S e c u r i t y B r a n c h , t e s t i f i e d .

He m a d e the a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t D . l . On the 26 t h N o v e m b e r ,

1981 at 6.15 a.m. he had a w a r r a n t in t e r m s of S e c t i o n

2 2(1) of Act 62 of 1966 to exe c u t e . He a r r e s t e d Dr. A g g e t t

at Crown M ines 823, J o h a n n e s b u r g . He a l s o had a s e a r c h

war r a n t . They w e n t to 4 2 0 A Fox Street, F a i r view, J o h a n n e s - 10

bu r g w h e r e the h o u s e was s e a r c h e d and a n u m b e r of e x h i b i t s

w e r e taken. The same h a p p e n e d at Lakton Mouse No. 816.He q u e s t i o n e d Dr. A g g e t t a b o u t his a c t i v i t i e s in the A.N.C.

SATU;. (African N a t i o n a l C o n g ress, S o u t h A f r i c a n T r ade

Union. ) Dr. A g g e t t r e f u s e d to a n s w e r any q u e s t i o n s .

D u r i n g c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. Kuny, C a p t a i n

S t r a u s s stated, i n t e r alia, he a r r e s t e d Dr. A g g e t t for

p r o m o t i n g the o b j e c t s of the b a n n e d A.N.C. He was t a ken

to P r e t o r i a as a d e t a i n e e . M a j o r Mahoney and o t her

m e m b e r s w e r e p r e s e n t w h e n Dr. A g g e t t was a r r e s t e d . 2 0

M a j o r Mahoney was in c h a r g e of the t a k i n g of the d o c u m e n t s .

Both of th e m p r e p a r e d a list of the d o c u m e n t s taken.

L a w r e n c e C h a r l e s P h i l l i p Prince, a D e t e c t i v e

W a r r a n t O f f i c e r in the S o u t h A f r i c a n P o l i c e and a m e m b e r

of the S e c u r i t y B r a n c h . t e s t i f i e d . He p r e p a r e d the

i n v entory, E x h i b i t Y.2 of the b o o k s h a n d e d to h i m by C a p t a i n

Strauss. He s e l e c t e d the books and d o c u m e n t s w h i c h in his

o p i n i o n w e r e r e l e v a n t to the p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s of

Dr. Aggett. He p r e p a r e d an i n v e n t o r y a f t e r Dr. A g g e t t

had p o i n t e d out his p r o p e r t y . 30D a n i e l D e n n i s Mahoney a M a j o r in the S o u t h A f r i c a n

Police, te sti fied.' H p m a d e the a f f i d a v i t . E X H I B I T DB.

He was in c h a r g e of the s e a r c h of the h o u s e of Dr. A g g e t t

and Dr. Floyd. They s e i z e d a q u a n t i t y of b o oks and

do c u m e n t s . Two i n v e n t o r i e s of g o o d s t a k e n we r e p r e p a r e d .

The one was s i g n e d by Dr. A g g e t t and the o t her by Dr. Floyd.

The i n v e n t o r y of Dr. Floyd is E x h i b i t Y . 4 . They a l s o

w e n t to the of f i c e of Dr. A g g e t t at L a k t o n Hour^-e.

Tom L o d g e in an a f f i d a v i t a d m i t t e d as E x h i b i t TTT

e x p r e s s e d an o p i n i o n on the p o s s i b l e i n f e r e n c e s th a t can

be d r a w n from the fact t h a t Dr. A g g e t t had c e r t a i n b o o k s

and d o c u m e n t s , t h o s e m e n t i o n e d by W a r r a n t O f f i c e r P r i n c e ,

in his p o s s e s s i o n . I do not c o n s i d e r it n e c e s s a r y for the

p u r p o s e of my J u d g m e n t to g i v e a d e t a i l e d s u m m a r y of' w h a t

he had to say.

C h r i s t o p h e r J o h a n n e s H e n d r i k Del p o r t , a L i e u t e n a n t -

in the D e p a r t m e n t of P r i s o n s at Preto r i a , d e c l a r e d : He

m a d e the a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t H . Neil H u d s o n A g g e t t was

d e t a i n e d in t e r m s of S e c t i o n 2 2(1) of Act, 62 of 1966 in

the p r i s o n at P r e t o r i a f r o m the 27 t h N o v e m b e r , 1981 u n t i l

the 11th D e c e m b e r , 1981. D u r i n g his d e t e n t i o n t h e r e he

v i s i t e d h i m twice. Dr. A g g e t t had no c o m p l a i n t s and he

did not see any i n j u r i e s on him.

W e s s e l J o h a n n e s S t r y d o m van N i e k e r k , a L i e u t e n a n t -

C o l o n e l in the D e p a r t m e n t of P r i s o n s at P r e t o r i a d e c l a r e d :

He m a d e the a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t J . He v i s i t e d Dr. A g g e t t

in a cell at P r e t o r i a e v e r y m o r n i n g d u r i n g the p e r i o d

30th Novem b e r , 1981 to the 7th D e c e m b e r , 1981, and d u r i n g

the p e r i o d the 9th D e c e m b e r , 1981 to the 11th D e c e m b e r , 1981.

He a s ked h i m w h e t h e r he had any c o m p l a i n t s . He n e v e r

m e n t i o n e d any c o m p l a i n t s to him. He n e v e r saw any i n j u r i e s

on Dr. Aggett. A c c o r d i n g to his r e c o r d s Dr. A g g e t t was

3523

J u d g m e n t .

v i s i t e d by a d o c t o r on the 30th N o v e m b e r , 1981 and on

the 7th Decem b e r , 1981 for tre a t m e n t .

Ja mes Aqenbagh. a S e r g e a n t in the S o u t h A f r i c a n

P o l i c e ,t e s t i f i e d : He was e m p l o y e d at the cells at John

V o r s t e r Square. The p e o p l e d e t a i n e d u n d e r the p r o v i s i o n s

of the S e c u r i t y L e g i s l a t i o n w e r e d e t a i n e d on the s e c o n d

floor. There is a s teel door l e a d i n g to the c e l l s b e h i n d

a p a r t i t i o n in the c h a r g e office. A g u a r d on d u t y w o u l d

open this door to a l l o w e n t r a n c e to the 'cells. The

n i g h t of the 4th Febru a r y , 1982 t here w e r e a b o u t 2 5 0 10

p r i s o n e r s in all the cells. Six p o l i c e m e n w e r e on duty.

T h eir i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e that they had to v i s i t the c e lls

e v e r y hour. In ca s e a m e m b e r of the S e c u r i t y B r a n c h w a n t e d

to take a d e t a i n e e on the s e c o n d floor, he had to go to

the g r o u n d f loor past the g u a r d on duty. He w o u l d a r r i v e

at a n o t h e r g a t e w h e r e c o n s t a b l e Shehlolo was on d u t y w i t h

a key. U s u a l l y this g a t e is locked. On c e t h r o u g h this

g a t e he w o u l d go to the cell. The c e l l is p r o v i d e d wi t h

two doors, a g r i l l d o o r l o c k e d w i t h a p a d l o c k and a key

kept by the S e c u r i t y P o l i c e and a n o t h e r d o o r l o c k e d w i t h 20

an o r d i n a r y lo c k of w h i c h the key is kept by the u n i f o r m

branch. If a d e t a i n e e is t a ken out of the cell he has to

be t a k e n to the g r o u n d f l o o r w h e r e an o c c u r r e n c e book is

kept and an e n t r y is made. Only then w o u l d he be a l l o w e d

t h r o u g h the ga t e on the g r o u n d floor. D u p l i c a t e keys to the

p a d l o c k s are kept in a s e a l e d c o n t a i n e r in the c h a r g e

o f f i c e to be used in case of an e m e r g e n c y . A m e m b e r of

the S e c u r i t y B r a n c h is not on du t y at the c e l l s d u r i n g

the night. He r e p o r t e d on du t y at a b o u t 9.45 p.m. on the

4th of February, 1982. The o t h e r s on d u t y w e r e Enslin, 30

Shehlolo, Mweni, M a r t i n and 'Koshibe W a r r a n t O f f i c e r Ma r a i s

3524

J u d g m e n t .

was in the c h a r g e office. He and M a r a i s i n s p e c t e d the

c e lls after they r e p o r t e d on duty. They v i s i t e d the

cell where Dr. A g g e t t was d e t a i n e d . Dr. A g g e t t i n t i m a t e d

w i t h his eyes and t h u m b that e v e r y t h i n g was in order, Dr.

Ag g e t t was on his bed. The n e x t v i s i t to the c e l l s had

to be at 1 1 . 3 0 p.m. It was not done b e c a u s e he was too

busy w i t h o ther d u t i e s and did not pay a t t e n t i o n to the

time of night. There we r e no m e m b e r s of the S e c u r i t y

B r a n c h on duty th a t e v ening. At a b o u t 12.45 a.m. on the

5th February, 1982 an e n t r y of the n e x t v i s i t to the c e l l s 10was made. They v i s i t e d the cells. S h e h l o l o o p e n e d the g a t e

of the cell on the s e c o n d floor. S h e h l o l o u n l o c k e d the

door of cell No. 209. He o p e n e d the d o o r and saw Dr. A g g e t t

h a n g i n g a g a i n s t the grid door ; a p i e c e of cloth,

E x h i b i t 1 , was a r o u n d his nectc and the o ther end tied to

the bar. His ba c k was t o w a r d s the door. He felt the pulse,

t here was no beat. T h ere was no b r e a t h i n g . In his o p i n i o n

Dr. A g g e t t was dead. He f ound the body at a b o u t 1. 3 0 a.m.

He r e p o r t e d the i n c i d e n t to W a r r a n t O f f i c e r M a r ais. The

S e c u r i t y P o l i c e was n o t i f i e d . Th e y a r r i v e d and he to o k 20

th e m to the cell. From the time he r e p o r t e d on du t y u n t i l

he found the body he did not see a m e m b e r of the S e c u r i t y

Po l i c e b r i n g i n g a p e r s o n to the cell or t a k i n g a n y o n e away.

Du r i n g e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. Kuny S e r g e a n t A g e n b a q h

st a t e d i n t e r ali? “• nnr could reach the c e l l s w i t h o u t

g o i n g t h r o u g h the g a t e on the f i r s t floor. The S e c u r i t y

Po l i c e did not h a v e a key to u n l o c k t h a t gate. The g u a r d

is at that g a t e n i g h t and day. On the s e c o n d f l o o r one has

to go t h r o u g h a g a t e to r e a c h the cells. W a r r a n t O f f i c e r

M c P h e r s o n is in c o n t r o l of the c e l l s on the s e c o n d f l o o r 30

d u r i n g the day. D e p e n d i n g on the w i s h of the p r i s o n e r the

3525

lights are s w i t c h e d off or on. He c a n n o t r e m e m b e r w h e t h e r

the light in the cell No. 209 was on or off w h e n he f ound

the body. He t h o u g h t Dr. A g g e t t was r e a d i n g w h e n he

v i s i t e d the cell at 1 0 . 3 0 p.m. There is a m e m b e r on each

floor to a t t e n d to c o m p l a i n t s by p r i s o n e r s . It was put to

s e r g e a n t Agenbagh that if he had v i s i t e d Dr. A g g e t t e v e r y

hour he w o u l d p e r h a p s s till ha v e been alive. S e r g e a n t

A q e n b a g h re p l i e d : "Dit is m i s k i e n soos da a r g e s e word,

hy kon nog g e s t e r f het, ek glo nie dat ’n p e r s o o n wat

h o m s e l f op h a n g sal aan sy nek h a n g vir l a n g e r as tien m i n u t e 10 v o o r d a t hy dood is nie en as ek elke uur b e s o e k was daar

g e n o e g tyd vir h o m om dood te g a a n as g e v o l g van die feit

dat hy aan sy n e k hang, of hy n o u w u r g of sy n e k breek".

D u r i n g e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. S c h a b o r t he t e s t i f i e d

he saw Dr. A g g e t t r e g u l a r l y , Dr. A g g e t t n e v e r had ever

c o m p l a i n e d to him. He n e v e r n o t i c e d a n y t h i n g s t r a n g e in

Dr. A g g e t t ' s c o n d u c t . In the c o u r s e of his d u t i e s he had

to deal w i t h d e a t h s and s u i c i d e s .

A n dre Martin, a c o n s t a b l e in the S o u t h A f r i c a n

P o l i c e ,t e s t i f i e d : He m a d e the a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t T. 20

On the n i g h t of the 4th F e b r uary, 1982 he was on du t y

w i t h s e r g e a n t Agenbagh. . He c o r r o b o r a t e s A q e n b a g h on

m o s t of the a s p e c t s of his e v i d e n c e . He m a d e the e n t r y

of the cell v i s i t at 12.56 a.m. but A g e n b a g h in fact only

v i s i t e d at 1.25 a.m. He was m o r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h the o t h e r

w o r k at the c e lls and kept the r e g i s t e r of p e o p l e t a k e n

out of the cells and t h o s e b r o u g h t in. A p r i s o n e r c o u l d

not h a v e been t a k e n out w i t h o u t h a v i n g his c o - o p e r a t i o n .

Du r i n g the n i g h t of the 4th February, 1982 no m e m b e r of

the S e c u r i t y P o l i c e came in t o the c ells or w e n t out of 30

the cells. He did not see any of them. U s u a l l y he does not

/ sno'irrnam; - -

a c c o m p a n y the s e r g e a n t on his cell visits. A m e m b e r of the

Force is on duty on each f loor to a t t e n d to the r e q u e s t

for s w i t c h i n g off or on of the lights.

J o h a n n e s S t e p h a n u s Marais, a W a r r a n t O f f i c e r in the

S outh A f r i c a n Police, t e s t i f i e d . His a f f i d a v i t is h a n d e d

in as E x h i b i t M . On the 4th February, 1982 he r e p o r t e d

on duty at 8.45 p.m. at the c h a r g e o f f i c e at J o h n V o r s t e r

Square. He c o r r o b o r a t e s the e v i d e n c e g i v e n by S e r g e a n t

A_qenbagh on e v e n t s w h e r e he was i n v o l v e d . He a d d e d that

the keys w e r e t a k e n out of the s e a l e d p a r c e l in his 10

p r e s e n c e .

S t e p h e n Enslin, a C o n s t a b l e in the S o u t h A f r i c a n

Police , d e c l a r e d in the a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t V . On the n i g h t

of the 4th February, 1982 he was on d u t y w i t h S e r g e a n t

M q e n b a q h He c o r r o b o r a t e s the e v i d e n c e of the l a t t e r

on the e v e n t s w h e r e he was i n v o l v e d .

M o s e u Paul S h e h l o l o , a c o n s t a b l e in the S o u t h

A f r i c a n P o l i c c ,t e s t i f i e d . He s u b m i t t e d the a f f i d a v i t

E x h i b i t C C . He is e m p l o y e d at the c e l l s on the s e c o n d

f loor of J o h n V o r s t e r S q u a r e w h e r e the d e t a i n e e s are 2 0

d e t a i n e d . D u r i n g n i g h t time he is the only p e r s o n to

keep the keys to the c e l l s on the s e c o n d floor. On the

4th February, 1982, he r e p o r t e d on du t y at 9.45 p.m. and

w e n t to the cells. At 1 0 . 3 0 p.m. S e r g e a n t A q e n b a g h and

W a r r a n t O f f i c e r M a r a i s v i s i t e d the cells. He o p e n e d the

m a i n door to a l l o w e n t r a n c e . T h e r e a f t e r he o p e n e d the

door of the cells i ,■icluciiriq the cell w h ere Dr. Aqqett was

d e t a i n e d . There w e r e no c o m p l a i n t s by the d e t a i n e e s .

At a b o u t 11 p.m. he v i s i t e d the cell a g a i n and only p e e p e d

t h r o u g h a s m a l l hole. Dr. A g g e t t was s t ill r e a d i n g . At 30

1. 3 0 a.m. S e r g e a n t A g e n b a n h v i s i t e d the c e l l s again. He

/ o o e n e d . . .'

op e n e d the door. W h e n the door of the cell w h e r e Dr. A g g e t t

was d e t a i n e d was op e n e d they saw Dr. A g g e t t h a n g i n g frorr.

the door with a c l o t h a r o u n d his neck. S i n c e the time he

r e p o r t e d on du t y u n t i l 1.30 a.m. he saw n o b o d y else

e x c e p t the p e r s o n s he m e n t i o n e d . He h e a r d Dr. Agg e t t

said e v e r y t h i n g was in o rder w h e n S e r g e a n t A g e n b a g h a s k e d

him w h e t h e r he had any c o m p l a i n t s on the p r e v i o u s visit.

Dr. Ag g e t t s p oke and g a v e a t h u m b - u p sign. Dr. A g g e t t was

not t aken out of the cell d u r i n g the n i g h t of his death.

D a n i e l Gert O o s t h u i z e n , a C o l o n e l in the S o u t h 10

A f r i c a n Police, t e s t i f i e d that he is the S t a t i o n C o m m a n d e r

at Jo h n V o r s t e r Square. Part of his d u t i e s w e r e to v i s i t

the p r i s o n e r s in the c ells and e n q u i r e a b o u t c o m p l a i n t s ,

if any. On e v e r y o c c a s i o n he v i s i t e d Dr. A g g e t t he a s k e d

h i m w h e t h e r he had any c o m p l a i n t s . Dr. A g g e t t had no

c o m p l a i n t s . The last time he a s k e d h i m was the m o r n i n g

of the 4th February, 1981. W h e n n e c e s s a r y he w o u l d m a k e

a r r a n g e m e n t s for a d o c t o r to see a d e t a i n e e w i t h o u t

n o t i f y i n g the S e c u r i t y Police. It h a p p e n e d th a t he

i n s t r u c t e d the S e c u r i t y P o l i c e to b r i n g a d o c t o r to a 20

d e t a i n e e . At pa g e 410:

" V o l g e n s u e r v a r i n g van die V e i l i g h e i d s t a k

wat was h u l l e o p t r e d e sn h o u d i n g t e e n o o r die

k w e s s i e van m e d i e s e b e h a n d e l i n g ? --- H u l l e

h o u d i n g en o p t r e d e was baie s t i p t e l i k , as

h u l l e g e s s is h i e r d i e man wil ’n d o k t e r sien dan

die v o l g e n d e m o r e het h u l l e g e r e e l d g e s s ’n

d o k t e r het h u l l e g e s i e n en h u l l e is t e v r e d e . "

K arel W y n a n d L a m p r e c h t , a D e t e c t i v e W a r r a n t O f f i c e r

in the South A f r i c a n P o l i c e a t t a c h e d to the F i n g e r p r i n t s 30

E x p e r t B r a n c h t e s t i f i e d : He m a d e the a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t W .1.

J u d g m e n t .

Dur i n g the m o r n i n g of the 5th February, 1982, he v i s i t e d

cell No. 209, Jo h n V o r s t e r Square. The body of the

d e c e a s e d was h a n g i n g a g a i n s t the do o r w i t h the end of

E x h i b i t 1 k n o t t e d a r o u n d the n e c k and the o t h e r end tied

to a bar of the g r i d door. He took p h o t o g r a p h s . About

two and a h a l f m e t e r a b o v e the f l o o r on top w h e r e the

c l o t h was tied to the g r i l l he l i f t e d f i n g e r p r i n t s . He

r e c e i v e d a set of f i n g e r p r i n t s of Dr. A g g e t t f r o m he

t h i n k s N t s o a n e and c o m p a r e d it w i t h 'the f i n g e r p r i n t s

he found on the g r i l l and f o und it to be i d e n t i c a l . 10See E x h i b i t s W.2, W.3 and W . 4 .

C h r i s t i a a n S t e p h a n u s S c holtz, a L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l in the

S o u t h A f r i c a n P o l i c e ,d e c l a r e d : On the 5th F e b r uary, 1982, at

2 a.m. he r e c e i v e d a t e l e p h o n e call f r o m W a r r a n t O f f i c e r

Marais. He c o n t a c t e d C o l o n e l Muller. He a r r i v e d at the

Charge Office, J o h n V o r s t e r S q u a r e at 2 . 2 0 a.m. and f o u n d

C o l o n e l M u l l e r pre s e n t . At 3-15 a.m. he i n f o r m e d C a p t a i n

V i c t o r’, the o f f i c e r on duty.

A n d r i e s A b r a h a m Str u w i g , a C a p t a i n in the S o u t h

A f r i c a n P o l i c e and m e m b e r of the S e c u r i t y Branch, d e c l a r e d : 20

On the 5th February, 1982 at 3 a.m. he r e c e i v e d a t e l e p h o n e

ca l l and w e n t to Jo h n V o r s t e r S q u a r e w h e r e he f o u n d C o l o n e l

duller, Lieutenant Colonel Scholtz,. M a j o r C r o n w r i g h t and

S e r g e a n t ‘Aqen b a g h . He saw the body of Dr. A g g e t t h a n g i n g

in cell No. 209 a b o u t 6 i n c h e s f r o m the f l o o r , o s t e n s i b l y

dead. P h o t o g r a p h s w e r e taken. B r i g a d i e r S w a n e p o e l who also

a r r i v e d ,i n s t r u c t e d that the c l o t h by m e a n s of w h i c h Dr.

A g g e t t was h a n g e d be cut. One p i e c e was left a r o u n d the

n e c k and the o t h e r on the bar. The body was r e m o v e d

to the l a b o r a t o r i e s . He n e v e r i n t e r r o g a t e d Dr. Aggett. 30

See his a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t M .

T h e u n i s J a c o b u s S w a n e p o e l , a B r i g a d i e r in the

S o u t h A f r i c a n Po l i c e d e c l a r e d : On the 5th February,

1982. at 3.25 a.m. he r e c e i v e d a call fr o m C o l o n e l Muller.

He w e n t to John V o r s t e r Square. He saw the body of Dr.

Neil Ag g e t t h a n g i n g fr o m the bar .on a p i e c e of s t r i p e d

cloth. One end was a r o u n d the n e c k and the o t her tied to

a bar. The body was cold. P h o t o g r a p h s and f i n g e r p r i n t s

w e r e taken. T h e r e a f t e r he o r d e r e d that the bo d y be

t a ken off. The c l o t h was cut. The body' was r e m o v e d to

the m o r t u a r y w i t h the p i e c e of c l o t h s t i l l a r o u n d the 10neck. In the cell he saw q u i t e a lot of c l e a n c l o t h e s .

T here we r e a pa i r of t r o u s e r s , shirts, jerseys, u n d e r w e a r ,

a pair of shoes w i t h o u t laces. T h ere we r e p a r c e l s of

sweets, b i s c u i t s and o t h e r f o o d s t u f f s , c i g a r e t t e s . . .

d i c e s and t h ere w e r e a b o u t 20 books. Two b o o k s w e r e opened,at

the one t i t l e d "Go do w n M o s e s " , / p a ges 196 and 197.

And the one t i t l e d "Zorba, the G r e e k " at p a g e s 246 and

247. These b o o k s , b o t h w e r e on the b e n c h ne x t to the bed. From

h i s o b s e r v a t i o n of the f a c i l i t i e s in the c e l l s he got

the i m p r e s s i o n th a t Dr. A g g e t t r e c e i v e d b e t t e r t r e a t m e n t 20

as he w o u l d n o r m a l l y h a v e e x p e c t e d in the case of any

d e t a i n e e . The l i g h t in the ce l l is not ve r y b r i g h t . He

did not see any i n j u r i e s on the face or h a n d s of the

d e c e a s e d and did not e x a m i n e the rest of the body. See

his a f f i d a v i t , E x h i b i t P .

J o h a n n e s C h r i s t i a a n P r e t o r i u s , a D e t e c t i v e W a r r a n t

O f f i c e r in the S o u t h A f r i c a n Police, d e c l a r e d : On the 5th

February, 1982, at 4 a.m. he w e n t to c e l l No. 209, Jo h n

V o r s t e r Square. He p r e p a r e d an i n v e n t o r y of the c o n t e n t s

of the cell. This i n v e n t o r y is a t t a c h e d , see his a f f i d a v i t , 30

E x h i b i t R.

Abrahair. Ntsoane, a C o n s t a b l e in the S o u t h A f r i c a n

Police- d e c l a r e d : On the 8th February, 1982 he o b t a i n e d

the f i n g e r p r i n t s of the body m a r k e d No. 270/82, on fo r m

S A P . 9 1 ( a ) .

John E d w a r d L l oyd t e s t i f i e d : D u r i n g the p e r i o d the

2nd J a n u a r y , 1982 to the 31st J a n u a r y , 1982 he was a

C o n s t a b l e in the S o u t h A f r i c a n Police, John V o r s t e r S q u a r e .

D u r i n g December, 1981 he was e m p l o y e d at Jo h n V o r s t e r

S q u a r e P o l i c e St a t i o n . His d u t i e s w e r e 'to r e c e i v e p a r c e l s

for d e t a i n e e s from t h e i r f a m i l i e s and fri e n d s . On the 10

4th Decem b e r , 1981 he r e c e i v e d the cloth, E x h i b i t 1 ,

f o o d s t u f f s and c l o t h i n g frorr he t h i n k s a d o c tor, a Mr.

Kaplan, for Dr. Aggett. An e n t r y of the r e c e i p t was m a d e

in the r e g i s t e r . The p e r s o n w h o b r o u g h t the a r t i c l e s

s i g n e d the r e g i s t e r . He left the a r t i c l e s on the t e n t h

floor, John V o r s t e r S q u a r e in o f f i c e No. 1010.

Da n i e l H e n d r i k P e t r u s Zeelie, a C o n s t a b l e in the

S o u t h A f r i c a n P o l i c e and a m e m b e r of the S e c u r i t y B r a n c h

t e s t i f i e d : On the 4th D e c e m b e r , 1981 he r e c e i v e d a p a r c e l

h a n d e d to Mr. L l o y d by Mr. Kaplan. It c o n t a i n e d food, 20

c l o t h i n g and the c o l o u r e d cloth, E x h i b i t 1 . E a c h i t e m was

e n t e r e d in t o a r e g i s t e r , K a p l a n and L l o y d s i g n e d the entry.

The P r i s o n A u t h o r i t i e s w h e r e Dr. A g g e t t was d e t a i n e d at

the time r e f u s e d to a c c e p t this parcel. They kept it and

on the 11th D e c e m & e r , 1981, the da t e t h a t Dr. A g g e t t was

t r a n s f e r r e d to Jo h n V o r s t e r Square, the p a r c e l was d e l i v e r e d

to Dr. A g g e t t w h o g a v e r e c e i p t . E x h i b i t B.l to 3.12 are copies

of the e n t r i e s of a r t i c l e s r e c e i v e d and h a n d e d o v e r .

An officer, a C a p t a i n van R e n s b u r g , d e c i d e s w h a t a r t i c l e s

may be h a n d e d to a d e t a i n e e . He does not know of g o o d s 30

b e i n g t a k e n away fr o m d e t a i n e e s . E x h i b i t BI is in the hand-

/ j y i •? 4* T> p *

w r i t i n g of Dr. Aggett. The p e r s o n who b r o u g h t the g o o d s

c o n c e r n e d is Dr. Kaplan. The g o o d s a c c o r d i n g to Exhibi ts

B.l to B.12 h a n d e d to Dr. Agg e t t c o n s i s t e d i n t e r al i a food,

books, pu z z l e c r o s s - w o r d s etc. All the a r t i c l e s b r o u g h t to

Dr. Aggett or b r o u g h t for Dr. A g g e t t w e r e h a n d e d over to

h i m .

V e r n o n Denis Kemp, the D i s t r i c t S u r g e o n of

J o h annesburg, t e s t i f i e d : On the 5th Febru a r y , 1982, he

e x a m i n e d the body of the late Dr. Aggett. His f i n d i n g s

w e r e r e c o r d e d on Form H e a l t h 1, E x h i b i t C . A f t e r w e i g h i n g 10

up the f a cts he c o n c l u d e d the c a u s e of d e a t h as -from

ha n g i n g . The i n j u r i e s to the body he found are r e c o r d e d

on the report, E x h i b i t C , and c i r c l i n g the n e c k and d o u b l e

k n o t t e d just b e l o w the r i g h t ear t h ere was a l e n g t h of s t r i p e d

m a t e r i a l , E x h i b i t 1, he s t a t e d i n t e r a l i a . " And t h e n on

the back a s p e c t of the r i g h t f o r e a r m five c e n t i m e t r e s a b o v e

the w r i s t t h ere was a f a i n t one c e n t i m e t r e t r i a n g u l a r

i r r e g u l a r scar w h i c h s t i l l s h o w e d a s l i g h t p i n k i s h t inge

of the s urface. That was a s m a l l scar, s u p e r f i c i a l area,

a scar w h i c h had r e c e n t l y h e a l e d . " This w o u n d c o u l d h a v e 20

been a n y t h i n g f r o m a b o u t t h r e e w e e k s old to a b o u t t h r e e

a i\m o n t h s old. And f u r t h e r : The fa c t that t h e r e was i n f i l t r a t i o n

of b l ood a r o u n d the neck, I think, i n d i c a t e s th a t t h e r e was

ilp r e s s u r e to the neck. He took m i c r o s c o p i c s e c t i o n s of the

brain, heart, lungs, sk i n fr o m the n e c k and sk i n f r o m the

back and sent these to Prof. S c h e p e r s for h i s t o l o g y . A

s p e c i m e n of b l o o d was sent for a l c o h o l and t o x i c s u b s t a n c e

testing. The l i v e r and k i d n e y s w e r e s e n t for t oxic

s u b s t a n c e t esting. He a l s o h a n d e d to Dr. Botha, the p r i v a t e

P a t h o l o g i s t , a s p e c i m e n of skin fr o m the ne c k and a 30

s p e c i m e n of the blood.

D uring e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. Bizos, a s t a t e m e n t ,

E x h i b i t E m a d e by Dr. Aggett on the 4th February, 1982

in w h i c h he a l l e g e d that he was a s s a u l t e d on the 4th Jan u a r y ,

1982 was read to Dr. Kemp and he was asked:

"Could you p l e a s e tell us w h e t h e r at the time

that you c a r r i e d out the post m o r t e m t h e r e was

any m a r k s or s c abs or o ther e v i d e n c e c o r r e s p o n d i n g

w i t h one or other of the i n j u r i e s d e s c r i b e d in

E x h i b i t E." The a n s w e r was: "On t h e p o s t e r i o r

a s p e c t of the r i g h t f o rearm, five c e n t i m e t r e s 10

a b o v e the wrist, that is r o u g h l y in this area

here, t h e r e was a f a int 1,5 cm t r i a n g u l a r i r r e g u l a r

scar w h i c h s till s h o w e d a s l i g h t pink t i n g e of

the s u r f a c e i n d i c a t i n g that this was an a b r a s i o n

like i n j u r y w h i c h had been s u s t a i n e d so m e time

before. Now the s o m e t i m e is ve r y d i f f i c u l t to say

w h a t it was but c e r t a i n l y not r e c e n t l y and not

m o r e th a n t h r e e m o n t h s old.

So this is c o n s i s t e n t w i t h w h a t Dr. A g g e t t

d e s c r i b e d h a p p e n e d to h i m as a r e s u l t of an 20

a s s a u l t on him by S c h a l k on the _4th of J a n u a r y ? ---

Yes. "

This i n j u r y w o u l d ha v e been v i s i b l e to a n y o n e

who had c o n t a c t w i t h Dr. A g g e t t at or a b o u t the

time t h a t ‘in j u r y m a y h a v e been i n f l i c t e d .

It was on the back of the arm, it may be that

the r e a s o n why a p p a r e n t l y no m e d i c a l a t t e n t i o n

was g i v e n to the i n j u r y is that it was not that

bad th a t it n e e d e d m e d i c a l a t t e n t i o n .

S t i l l r e f e r r i n g to the s t a t e m e n t by Dr. Aggett, his e v i d e n c e 30

r eads -

/ "are . . .

3533

Ju d g m e n t . -

"Are there any other i n j u r i e s that are

c o n s i s t e n t w i t h the s t a t e m e n t ? --- There

are two other i n j u r i e s m e n t i o n e d he r e in

the s t a t e m e n t and the f irst one is that

was a l l e g e d l y i n f l i c t e d on the 4th January,

that is a scab on the back. I d i d n ' t see

any scab on the back and the s e c o n d one w h i c h

f i rst of all is d e s c r i b e d as a 'sc r a t c h on my

left pulse' (radial n e r v e ) and then l a t e r it is

d e s c r i b e d as a scar on my pulse, this is ve r y 10c o n f u s i n g b e c a u s e it is t a l k i n g a b o u t

c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t things. First of all

I t h i n k w h a t c ould have h a p p e n e d he r e was

that the t r a n s l a t i o n of the w r i s t was g i v e n

in A f r i k a a n s and t r a n s l a t e d "p o l s ""said pulse"

the s e c o n d t h i n g is I c a n ' t u n d e r s t a n d why

t h e r e is in b r a c k e t s 'radial nerve' b e c a u s e

a p u l s e is he r e and the r a d i a l n e r v e is there.

So I saw no s c r a t c h or scar.

T h ere is of c o u r s e e v i d e n c e in the s t a t e m e n t 2C

i t s e l f th a t the p e r s o n w h o to o k it was not

v e r y p r o f i c i e n t in En g l i s h . You w o u l d a g r e e

w i t h t h at? -- Yes.

Now as to w h e t h e r or not t h e r e was a scab on

the 5th F e b r u a r y or not, one c a n n o t say w i t h

any d e g r e e of c e r t a i n t y as to w h e t h e r t h e r e was

a scab s h o r t l y a f t e r the 4th, is that c o r r e c t ?

--- You can't.

Are t h ere any o ther i n j u r i e s w h i c h are c o n s i s t e n t

wi t h w h a t is m e n t i o n e d ? --- No. . 3

He then c o n t i n u e d -

It d e p e n d s t r e m e n d o u s l y on the c u r r e n t that

is used and that and the a m p e r a g e of the c u r r e n t

and all sorts of things, w h e t h e r it was put onto

a dry skin or a wet skin and the p l a c e that was

used to be s h o c k e d w h e t h e r it w o u l d be d e t e c t a b l e

w h e t h e r a p e r s o n was e l e c t r i c a l l y s h o c k e d or not.

As far as he knows no D i s t r i c t S u r g e o n sawis

Dr. A g g e t t in d e t e n t i o n . I t / u n l i k e l y th a t a n y o n e

w o u l d ha v e m a n a g e d to h a n g a p e r s o n w h o is

u n c o n s c i o u s w i t h o u t l e a v i n g a m a r k of a s t r u g g l e .

T here are no c l e a r s i g n s of d e p r e s s i o n . Some

lay p e r s o n s w o u l d n o t i c e d e p r e s s i o n , ot h e r s not.

Cr y i n g by an adult, a m o o d of d e j e c t i o n , f a i l u r e s

to g r e e t people, s l o w n e s s in m o v e m e n t , loss of

ajpetite m i g h t be s i g n s of d e p r e s s i o n . He c a n n o t

say w i t h a b s o l u t e c e r t a i n t y w h e t h e r Dr. A g g e t t

h a n g e d h i m s e l f or died b e c a u s e of m a n u a l

s t r a n g u l a t i o n .

D u r i n g e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. S c h a b o r t Dr. Ke m p t e s t i f i e d

T.he r e f e r e n c e in the s t a t e m e n t , E x h i b i t E, by Dr. A g g e t t

to a s c r a t c h on his left p u l s e and the r a d i a l n e r v e is

c o n t r a d i c t o r y . There was n o t h i n g to be se e n of su c h an

i n j u r y w h e t h e r on the p u l s e or r a d i a l nerve. If t h e r e was

a scab on Dr. A g g e t t ' s back on the 4th of Jan u a r y , 1982c

t here s h o u l d h a v e be e n a m a r k a m o n t h later. They did not

find any. B e c a u s e of the p o s i t i o n of the b o d y it is sorne-

di f ficulttimes e x t r e m e l y / z o find s o m e t h i n g like that. The m a r k on

the arm was f ound wi t h g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y . It is i m p o s s i b l e

to say w h a t c a u s e d the i r r e g u l a r scar in q u e s t i o n . It was a

o s t e n s i b l y / v e r y s u p e r f i c i a l i n j u r y and not the kind one w o u l d

go to a d o c t o r for. The m e r e fact that a man finds

h i m s e l f in an i n t e r r o g a t i o n r o o m for a c e r t a i n p e r i o d

n e e d not n e c e s s a r i l y be m o r e conductive to d e p r e s s i o n

than wh a t it w o u l d be like to s p e n d a s i m i l a r p e r i o d of

time in the cell. In his e x p e r i e n c e he f o und the p o l i c e

at J o h a n n e s b u r g c o - o p e r a t i v e to the u t m o s t in c o n n e c t i o n

w i t h v i s i t s and e x a m i n a t i o n s of d e t a i n e e s by D i s t r i c t

S u r g e o n s . As a r e s u l t of his o b s e r v a t i o n s he c o n c l u d e d

that the c a u s e of d e a t h was h a n g i n g .

His e v i d e n c e c o n t i n u e s and I q u o t e f r o m page

122 of the record:

"Now in the light, dr. Kemp, of the v a r i o u s

a s p e c t s that we ha v e c a n v a s s e d n o w and yo u r

f i n d i n g s and the best to w h i c h you are able to

a p p l y y o u r m i n d to the p a r t i c u l a r q u e s t i o n b e f o r e

you, w h a t was the c a u s e of the d e c e a s e d ' s d e a t h ?

W o u l d you a d h e r e to y o u r vi e w p o i n t th a t this

was h a n g i n g ? --- In my o p i n i o n and in a c c o r d a n c e

w i t h the f i n d i n g s that I have, I am p e r f e c t l y

c o r r e c t in s a y i n g that in my o p i n i o n th i s was

d e a t h due to h a n g i n g . And u n l e s s s o m e o n e else

can p e r s u a d e me o t h e r w i s e I m u s t r e m a i n w i t h t h a t . "

N i c o l a a s J a c o b u s S c h e p e r s , a r e g i s t e r e d m e d i c a l

p r a c t i t i o n e r and C h ief S t a t e P a t h o l o g i s t and P r o f e s s o r

at an U n i v e r s i t y t e s t i f i e d ; On 8th F e b r u a r y , 1982, he

r e c e i v e d a c o n t a i n e r w h i c h c o n t a i n e d s a m p l e s of brain,

heart, lungs, s k i n of the n e c k and some fr o m the back.

He e x a m i n e d the s a m p l e s and c o m p i l e d his report, E x h i b i t D.

"The g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e of the b r a i n is th a t of a r e l a t i v e

b l o o d l e s s brain. The skin fr o m the neck, the e p i d e r m i s

is not da m a g e d . There is an e x t r a v a s a t i o n of

J u d g m e n t .

red blood cells in the s u b c u t a n e o u s t issues. In the

d e r m i s there are s t r a n d s of h a e m o g l o b i n p i g m e n t a t i o n

s i m i l a r to w h a t one sees w h e n t h e r e is h a e m o l y s i s of

red blood cells and l i b e r a t i o n of h a e m o g l o b i n . No

e v i d e n c e w h a t s o e v e r of any i n f l a m m a t o r y r e a c t i o n is

seen, not even p e r i v a s c u l a r c u f f i n g by n e u t r o p h i l

l e u c o c y t e s or s c a t t e r e d l o ose l y i n g n e u t r o p h i l cells."

D u r i n g e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. B i zos he s t a t e d i n ter

alia

"I can g i v e an o p i n i o n or c o n f i r m a t o r y 10

e v i d e n c e of w h a t I ha v e s e e n in the b rain

to c o n f i r m the m e t h o d of dying, the m e c h a n i s m

of d y i n g . "

His e v i d e n c e c o n t i n u e s -

"The m e c h a n i s m of d e a t h can ta k e p l a c e in

the sa m e w a y w h e t h e r one dies in a homicidal

h a n g i n g or is ki l l e d w i t h a l i g a t u r e . T h ere

is a d i f f e r e n c e .

No, are y o u s a y i n g that t h ere is a d i f f e r e n c e

of d i a g n o s i s w h i c h w i l l g u i d e us in all c a s e s 20

or th a t t h e r e m a y be c a s e s w h e r e you m i g h t

be ab l e to tell the d i f f e r e n c e ? --- There

are c e r t a i n c r i t e r i a w h i c h one m a y s t u d y to

h e l p us to f o r m u l a t e an o p i n i o n . One c a n ' t

fo r m an o p i n i o n just on the h i s t o l o g y alone.

But in c o n j u n c t i o n wi t h o t h e r c r i t e r i a one

m a y fo r m an o pinion.

Yes, we are d e a l i n g w i t h y o u r r e p o r t w h i c h is

a h i s t o l o g y report. Is t h e r e a n y t h i n g in

y o u r h i s t o l o g i c a l r e p o r t w h i c h a s s i s t s us 30

in the e n q u i r y as to w h e t h e r it is the one or

/ the

3537

the other? --- The f irst t h i n g that a s s i s t s

us in the h i s t o l o g y r e p o r t is that the

b r ain is blo o d l e s s ; in o t her w o r d s t h ere

was no p u m p i n g of the blood up into the

brain. Now if a p e r s o n is hanged, if he h a n g s

h i m s e l f as in s u i c i d a l ha n g i n g , the b l ood s u p p l y

to the b r ain is cut off b e c a u s e the m a n w a n t s

to b e c o m e u n c o n s c i o u s and he lets h i m s e l f go

loose and ha n g a g a i n s t the l i g a t u r e and the

blood s u p p l y is a d e q u a t e l y cut off to the 10brain and if you see a p e r s o n h a n g i n g w h o has

done it h i m s e l f , the f i r s t t h i n g that s t r i k e s you

is the pale face of the d e c e a s e d . On the o t her

hand if a m a n has been s t r a n g u l a t e d by m e a n s

of a ligat u r e , in a h o m o c i d a l s t r a n g u l a t i o n

by s o m e o n e else, the f i r s t t h i n g that s t r i k e s

you is the c o n g e s t i o n and the blue c o l o u r of

the face. So t h ere is a w o r l d of d i f f e r e n c e

b e t w e e n the two and t h e r e is a g o o d r e a s o n for it.

Now the f i r s t t h i n g I h a v e f ound was this b l o o d - 20

less a p p e a r a n c e of the b r a i n w h i c h w i l l fall

in line w i t h s u i c i d a l h a n g i n g .

Can the m e a s u r e w h i c h has been d e s c r i b e d by

Mr. W i n t e r , w e r e you in C o urt w h e n I read it out?

--- Yes. W h i c h says that a wet t o wel is

w r a p p e d a r o u n d the t h r o a t and p u l l e d t i g h t u n t i l

the v i c t i m is a b o u t to faint, it l e a v e s no m a r k s

on the throat, the d u r a t i o n of s t r a n g l i n g times

r a nge from p e r s o n to person, so m e p a s s e s out

q u i c k e r than others, r e c o v e r i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s is 30a h o r r i f y i n g e x p e r i e n c e , so that the s p e e d w i t h

/ w h i c h ...

w h i c h the l i g a t u r e is a p p l i e d or the h a n g i n g

m a y vary? --- Correct.

That it may d e p e n d upon the size and s t r e n g t h

of the p e r s o n d o i n g it and i n c a p a c i t y of the

v i c t i m ? --- You m e a n the o u t c o m e ?

Not the outcome, the o u t c o m e of this, you say t h e r e

is a d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n the two, P r o f e s s o r ,

b e c a u s e h a n g i n g is q uicker, do I u n d e r s t a n d you

c o r r e c t l y ? --- I d i d n ' t say h a n g i n g is qui c k e r ,

I said h a n g i n g in s u i c i d a l h a n g i n g t h e r e is a 10

c u t t i n g off of the b lood s u p p l y to the b r a i n

b e c a u s e yo u r p e r s o n does not t e n s e his n e c k

m u s c l e s to p r e v e n t this h a p p e n i n g , b e c a u s e his

blood p r e s s u r e d o e s n ' t g o up as m u c h as w h e n he

fi g h t s and r e s i s t s h i m s e l f . "

And f u r t h e r -

"Prof. S c h e p e r s , sou dit k o r r e k w e e s om te se

dat die h e l e v e r s l a g , al u b e v i n d i n g s is v e r s o e n -

baar m e t s e l f m o o r d ? --- Dit is so ja.

S e l f m o o r d de u r s e l f o p h a n g ? --- Ja, d a a r is ni k s 20

t e e n s t r y d i g s in die h i s t o l o g i e s e v e r s l a g m e t die

t o e s t a n d van s e l f o p h a n g n i e . "

And f u r t h e r -

"Kan ek dit dan so s a amvat, P r o f e s s o r , dat u

m e n i n g ten o p s i g t e van k l i n i e s e b e eld van

d a a r d i e l e t s e l s wat u da a r w a a r n e e m en die

g e t u i e n i s d a a r o m t r e n t wat u g e h o o r net, a l l e s

is v e r s o e n b a a r --- met s e l f - c p h a n q ?

Jan B a r e n d C h r i s t i a a n Botha, a q u a l i f i e d p a t h o l o g i s t

tes t i f i e d . On the m o r n i n g of the 5th February, 1932, he 30

a t t e n d e d an a u t o p s y p e r f o r m e d on Dr. A g g e t t by Dr. Kemp.

/ He ...

He p r e p a r e d the report, E x h i b i t F . He was al s o p r e s e n t

w h e n Dr. Kemp p e r f o r m e d an a u t o p s y on the s p i n a l cord

on the 10th February, 1982. Dr. B o t h a read out the

f i n d i n g s in his report, E x h i b i t F , and i n ter alia st a t e d

at page 186 -

"There was no e v i d e n c e of r e c e n t or past

in j u r y to the p e n i s . "

At page 187 -

"no m a t e r i a l was found u n d e r the f i n g e r n a i l s . "

At page 187 -

"Now the i n j u r y that you found a b o u t 5 cm

a b o v e the r i g h t wrist, c o u l d you d e s c r i b e in

y o u r own o p i n i o n as h o w old? --- I d o n ' t t h i n k

it is p o s s i b l e to i n d i c a t e the age w i t h any

d e g r e e of a c c u r a c y but I w a n t to say it was

b e t w e e n t h r e e w e e k s and t h r e e m o n t h s d u r a t i o n .

S e r i o u s w o u n d s ? --- No, it was a t r i v i a l lesion.

Can you m e n t i o n any o p i n i o n as to w h a t c o u l d

h a v e c a u s e d it, w h a t c o u l d h a v e be e n l i k e l y to

h a v e c a u s e d it? --- I w o u l d say it is a r e s u l t

of a c o n t a c t of this w i t h a h a r d s h a r p object.

It w o u l d c o r r e s p o n d to the a l l e g a t i o n of an

a s s a u l t m a d e in the s t a t e m e n t h a n d e d in by

D r . A g g e t t ."

At page 188 -

"You ha v e come to no p a r t i c u l a r c o n c l u s i o n

in your s t a t e m e n t as to the c a u s e or lik e l y

c a u s e of death. W o u l d you care to v e n t u r e an

o p i n i o n ? --- The f i n d i n g s at a u t o p s y in my

o p i n i o n are c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h o s e of h a n g i n g .

I c ould find no e v i d e n c e of any other p o s s i b l e

c a use of death, nor was t h ere any e v i d e n c e

of rec e n t a s s a u l t s at the time of the

autopsy. By r e c e n t I m e a n w i t h i n a few

days p r e c e d i n g the death.

You have h e a r d the p o s t u l a t i o n s m a d e as to

h a n g i n g as o p p o s e d to m a n u a l s t r a n g u l a t i o n

w i t h a l i g a t u r e ? Are t here any i n d i c a t i o n s ?

--- There are no c o n c r e t e i n d i c a t i o n s one way

or the other. T h ere is no diagn'ostical

d e t r i m o n i a l f e a t u r e to i n d i c a t e that th i s 10was h a n g i n g and not a n o t h e r p o s s i b l e c a u s e

but I found no e v i d e n c e to s u g g e s t any o t her

m e c h a n i s m of death, and as far in my o p i n i o n

the c h a n g e s that w e r e f ound at a u t o p s y w e r e

e n t i r e l y c o m p a t i b l e w i t h han g i n g .

Dr. Kemp was of the o p i n i o n th a t it was h a n g i n g

b e c a u s e of m a i n l y , if I u n d e r s t o o d h i m c o r r e c t l y ,

the u n d e r l y i n g d a m a g e to the s k i n ? --- I am

c e r t a i n t h a t d e a t h was due to the a p p l i c a t i o n

of the g a r m e n t a r o u n d the d e c e a s e d ' s neck. 20I c a n n o t a c c e p t a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e the d e c e a s e d

died and was then s u s p e n d e d po s t m o r t e m . To

me the h a e m o r r h a g e in the v i c i n i t y of the r i g h t

c a r o t i d s h e a t h w h i c h c o r r e s p o n d e d w i t h the

p o s i t i o n of the knot i n d i c a t e d th a t this was

wh a t c a u s e d his death".

D u r i n g c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n by Mr. B i z o s Dr. B o t h a s t a t e d f

i n t e r a l i a . a t page 189 -

"Dr. Botha, b e f o r e you h e a r d the d e s c r i p t i o n

c a l l e d the "Adams a p p l e "by Mr. W i n t e r 30

y e s t e r d a y , w e r e you a w a r e of this p o s s i b l e

/ t e c h n i q u e ...

3541

t e c h n i q u e of s o m e o n e ? --- No, I w a s n ' t a w a r e

of i t .

So that if t h e r e is any or some s u b s t a n c e in

this it was not s o m e t h i n g in the f o r e f r o n t of

your m i n d at the time w h e n you t h o u g h t a b o u t

the post m o r t e m r e s u l t s that you w i t n e s s e d ?

--- Mr. Bizos, this p a r t i c u l a r t e c h n i q u e was

not in the f o r e f r o n t of my m i n d but I w a s a s k e d

to c o n s i d e r all p o s s i b i l i t i e s .

And if we u n d e r s t o o d y o u r e v i d e n c e c o r r e c t l y 10

that you w o u l d f a v o u r the t h e o r y that he was

a l i v e w h e n he was s u s p e n d e d e i t h e r by h i m s e l f

or by s o m e o n e e l se? --- That is c o r r e c t . "

And at page 190 to 191 -

"The s c i e n t i f i c e v i d e n c e I t h i n k poi n t s

s t r o n g l y to d e a t h by h a n g i n g but that is

a b o u t as far as we can go. But it c a n n o t

say w h e t h e r it was s u i c i d a l h a n g i n g or h a n g i n g

of the s e m i - c o n s c i o u s p e r s o n as W i n t e r d e s c r i b e d ?

--- Mr. Bizos, I ha v e so m e d i f f i c u l t y w i t h 20

W i n t e r ' s t e c h n i q u e . I d o n ' t kn o w w h e t h e r

y ou w o u l d like me to e l a b o r a t e on that.

Well, if you t h i n k it n e c e s s a r y by all

m e a n s ? --- If y o u are g o i n g to tie a t owel

a r o u n d a m a n ' s n e c k w i t h s u f f i c i e n t f o rce to

i n d u c e a l e v e l of u n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , then in all

p r o b a b i l i t y and he r e I t h i n k of p r o b a b i l i t i e s

b e c a u s e I have n e v e r c o m e a c r o s s a case like

this and as far as I am a w a r e no one has ev e r

d o n e any e x p e r i m e n t of e v i d e n c e or is ev e r 30l i k e l y to do this kind of w o r k b e c a u s e it is so

Historical Papers, Wits University

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Collection Number: AK2216 AGGETT, Dr Neil, Inquest, 1982 PUBLISHER:Publisher:- Historical Papers Research ArchiveLocation:- Johannesburg©2013

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