Two brothers charged with fireworks assault

[caption id="attachment_188671" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Demane Pillay, left, and Sebastian Pillay leave the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday after being released on bail of R500
Picture: Kathryn Kimberley[/caption]

Two Port Elizabeth brothers who allegedly gave a young boy a firecracker and told him to light it – causing it to explode in his face – have been released on R500 bail each following a brief appearance in the city’s magistrate’s court yesterday.

Sebastian, 27, and Demane Pillay, 25, laughed as photographers took their pictures outside the court, moments after their release from custody.

The brothers, of Summerstrand, face a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

They are represented by top criminal defence attorney Alwyn Griebenow, who was not in court yesterday.

Shane Witbooi, 12, a Grade 6 pupil at Rufane Donkin Primary School in Gelvandale, was severely injured during what is said to have been a “prank” during the early hours of Sunday.

Shane is in the Provincial Hospital for treatment to his eyes which were swollen shut in the explosion.

The men were also warned not to have contact with the boy or any of the state witnesses.

The pair were arrested yesterday morning after detectives went to their Summerstrand home and escorted them to the police station.

Demane works as a marine pilot at Transnet and Sebastian as an engineer at Shatterprufe.

While the brothers have so far only been charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, police say additional charges under the Explosive Act could be added at a later stage.

The charge could also later be changed to attempted murder based on findings as the investigation continues.

A third brother was not arrested as preliminary evidence suggested he was not directly involved.