A South African farmer is on trial for allegedly running over a six-year-old boy who was picking up a fallen orange.
70-year-old Christoffel Johannes Stoman faces two charges of attempted murder and one charge of reckless and negligent driving related to the incident on September 20, during which he is accused of deliberately driving into the child.
The child’s mother, Magdalene Jantijies, informed police that she and her son were shopping in town when he reached through a fence to pick up two fallen oranges. Stoman accused the six-year-old of deliberately stealing from his farm.
Jantijies told eCNA that Stoman drove toward them shouting “Stand there” multiple times. “I thought he was going to stop. He aimed directly at us in a corner, and I screamed, ‘Help! Help!’ He said, ‘I’m going to kill you by driving into you.'”
The collision resulted in two broken legs for the six-year-old, who is currently hospitalized and awaiting surgery.
The boy’s mother stated that Stoman has not offered any assistance since the incident. According to LBC, Stoman told police he “would do it again.” Community members have claimed that the farmer has a history of similar offenses.
Stoman has been denied bail as his trial proceeds.
