theherald@avusa.co.za

THE mother of an 18-year-old boy accused of shooting dead his father with a hunting rifle as he slept in his reclining chair told the Still Bay Circuit court yesterday that her son had been subjected to years of emotional and physical abuse by the man.

Shocking details emerged during Albertinia farm worker Jacobus van Zyl’s brief appearance yesterday in connection with the murder of Koos van Zyl, 39, on December 7.

Van Zyl and his mother, Vikkie, 39, said in an affidavit that Koos had verbally, physically and emotionally abused his son for years, and that the shooting happened as a result of the alleged abuse.

They said Koos took the boy out of school in Grade 4 so that he could work as a labourer on their thatch farm.

According to the family, the boy is illiterate and never received a salary for his farm work. The school principal was apparently told Van Zyl would be home-schooled, the court heard.

It was not clear how much schooling he in fact did receive.

Van Zyl has been placed under house arrest until his next court date in February. He first appeared in the Albertinia Magistrate’s Court the day after the shooting and his case was referred to the Still Bay Circuit Court, where the State did not oppose his release under house arrest.

A Correctional Services official is monitoring him where he lives on the farm with his mother and 16-year-old sister, Rita.

He is only allowed to leave the farm to go to church on a Sunday, according to the conditions the court imposed on his house arrest.

Vikkie said her daughter had also been home-schooled but had not been subjected to physical or emotional abuse. The family and their legal representatives have refused to speak to the media.

It is expected that Van Zyl will have to undergo psychiatric evaluation, and the possibility exists that he will eventually plead to manslaughter.

The case was postponed to February 19 for further investigation by the police.