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THE MERCURY<\/p>\n
Kings Park Stadium. Photo: Marilyn Bernard<\/p>\n
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Durban – A 29-year-old visitor from England who watched the Sharks take on the Melbourne Rebels at Kings Park Stadium on Saturday was beaten to death after the match while partying with rugby supporters at the stadium\u2019s clubs. <\/p>\n
Brett Williams, a former South African citizen who has lived in the UK since he was a child, was apparently killed by a group of fellow patrons near the Sharks Supporters\u2019 Club at about 10pm. Police say he was severely beaten with \u201cclenched fists and booted feet\u201d. <\/p>\n
He died at the stadium. <\/p>\n
Williams, a maritime security operator, was in Durban for only a short time after the ship on which he was working docked in Durban harbour. He was due to travel to Joburg the day after the match to see his cousin Tarryn Williams and other relatives. <\/p>\n
Independent witnesses to the fight did not know what started it, but said Williams did not appear to have been the instigator. The witnesses did not want to be named. <\/p>\n
A woman who had been standing outside the supporters\u2019 club said she saw a scuffle in which Williams may have bumped someone and then apologised. <\/p>\n
However, after that clash subsided another \u201cenraged\u201d patron started a fight. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is just so scary when you see that silver body cover being put over someone. You don\u2019t expect something like this at rugby,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Another long-time Sharks supporter said she saw security guards running and stadium management rushing to the scene in golf carts. At one stage people scattered in different directions, but the woman noticed one man \u2013 described as a \u201cbodybuilder type\u201d with a shaved head and wearing a tight shirt \u2013 walking away high-fiving his friends. A few security guards were in pursuit of him. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe (Williams) was on the floor, still alive at that stage. Paramedics were attending to him but they said his vitals were failing.\u201d <\/p>\n
On Tuesday, a devastated Tarryn Williams said that her cousin had attended the match with members of his crew from the ship, but that they had not been present when the fight started. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was not a trouble starter; he was the most placid guy,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Williams had been in the Royal Marines in the UK, but left about a year ago to work as a maritime security operator. <\/p>\n
Tarryn said his parents were \u201cnot in a good place\u201d following the news of their son\u2019s death, and the family was heartbroken. <\/p>\n
She said she was dissatisfied at the progress in the case. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was murdered on Saturday, but we only found out all the details today. We were only notified of his death (on Monday) and that was by the British embassy. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy have no arrests been made? There were obviously lots of people there who saw it.\u201d <\/p>\n
Some said he was beaten by a group of four men, others said there were more. It has also been said that the fight originated outside the One Stop club, but heightened near the supporters\u2019 club. <\/p>\n
However, George Laas, the chairman of the Sharks Supporters\u2019 Club, claimed he had not been aware of any fight in or near his club. One Stop owner Chris Theron said \u201chalf the stadium\u201d attended his club at some point after matches, and he was informed of this incident only at about midnight. <\/p>\n
Police spokesman Vince Mdunge said police were gathering statements from witnesses and he hoped they would identify \u2013 and then arrest \u2013 the person or people responsible. <\/p>\n
He said the process should not be lengthy and an arrest should take place soon, but added that police resources were also tied up with the Brics summit. <\/p>\n
Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl said the franchise had conducted an internal investigation and was satisfied that its contracted service providers, Fidelity Security and ER24, had done everything possible to assist in stopping the fight. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe pride ourselves on providing a world-class display in a safe and secure environment. The safety of our patrons is of paramount importance,\u201d Van Zyl said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a senseless, isolated incident and the stadium will ensure that we do everything possible to avoid incidents like this occurring in the future.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Mercury <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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