Bernard appeal dismissed

The North Gauteng High Court dismissed a parole application by inmate Ferdi Barnard yesterday (14/10/2015).

Bernard was sentenced to two terms of life and 63 years imprisonment on June 1998 after being found guilty of committing serious crimes on June 4, 1998.

These included the murder of Dr David Webster, an anthropologist from the University of Witwatersrand.

Barnard had applied to be released on parole on November last year and that the decision be made within specified timeline.

The court ordered the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS) to consider his application by 19 December last year.

The NCCS recommended a release date but the minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha refused to approve his release.

Masutha said Bernard's parole process had a lack of second victim's family involvement.

Bernard had shown a lack of participation in self-development programs, said Masutha.

The court concluded that the facts brought forward by Masutha  were reasonable to dismiss Bernard's application. -Siphokuhle Mkancu