BREAKING #JacoSwart has pleaded guilty to assault GBH for the vicious attacks on his estranged wife Nicoleen. The matter was struck off the roll last year. Then @Afriforum’s Private Prosecution Unit got involved and made representations to the DPP. 
#JacoSwart Surveillance footage captured Swart punching, kicking and pushing his wife Nicoleen. Sometimes in front of their children. The vicious assaults left Nicoleen with cuts and bruises. In one attack, he kicks her in the face; in another, he kicks her between her legs.
#JacoSwart In another attack, Swart gives Nicoleen an ice pack to deal with her bust up eye. While she was seated on a couch, he launched a flying kick into her face. Swart goes by the nickname “Hooligan”. Footage of these attacks will be made available.
#JacoSwart in mitigation of sentence has told the court that he has shown remorse, apologized for his conduct, that he has been attending programmes and is receiving counseling. They have asked for a non-custodial sentence.
It’s not known how the @NPA_Prosecutes will respond.
It’s not known how the @NPA_Prosecutes will respond.
#JacoSwart the @NPA_Prosecutes prosecutor, Adv. Molokomme has not spoken to the complainant once this morning. (In fact, last spoke to her in February).
The victim has no idea how this serious case of gender-based violence will be handled in sentencing.
The victim has no idea how this serious case of gender-based violence will be handled in sentencing.
#JacoSwart Adv. Molokomme asks the court to submit surveillance footage of the assaults as part of aggravation of sentence.
The Defence is objecting to this.
The footage is damning - it shows extreme, sustained violence against a woman.
The Defence is objecting to this.
The footage is damning - it shows extreme, sustained violence against a woman.
#JacoSwart the court has dismissed the state’s application to admit the surveillance footage - unless the state was prepared to lead evidence to confirm its authenticity.
Prosecutor Molokomme opts to move on to the medical report.
I will release the footage later.
Prosecutor Molokomme opts to move on to the medical report.
I will release the footage later.
#JacoSwart sentenced to a fine of R20 000, and a further three years imprisonment suspended for five years.
The court accepted that Swart had shown remorse - despite noting that society looks to the courts for protection in light of skyrocketing GBV cases.
The court accepted that Swart had shown remorse - despite noting that society looks to the courts for protection in light of skyrocketing GBV cases.
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