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Pat A. Wertheim · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 73 Location: USA

I recently caught part of a legal brief on the internet to the effect that the parents of Inge Lotz have filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC). The complaint is that their right to privacy was violated by the television show Carte Blanche in showing photographs of the murder scene which included the body of their daughter. Not only did the television show include that photograph without permission, but without even notifying them, so that they saw the photo for the first time with thousands of other viewers. The pain to the Lotz family is compounded by the fact that the program continues to be featured in repeat broadcasts of that episode. My heart goes out to the Lotzes. Friends in South Africa with whom I have been communicating are in doubt that the HRC is the right place to lodge such a complaint, but we shall see.

Meanwhile, I have been advised of a rumor that the official spokesperson for the Lotz family, one Ms. Dani Cohen, has been fired from that position. To put it mildly, some of the press releases and statements issued by Ms. Cohen were not accurate in their portrayal of the case. Perhaps her inflammatory rhetoric was finally recognized for what it was. She could have helped diffuse a tragic situation, but only stirred things up for the worse. One has to wonder if the HRC complaint was the last act of a desperate woman.

With Ms. Cohen out of the employ of the Lotz family, one has to then begin questioning whether the civil action the Lotzes filed against Fred van der Vyver should go ahead. With all the "evidence" against Fred proven to have been fabricated, there ought to be no further grounds for the suit.

My hope is that with a new government now in place and with Ms. Cohen out of the picture, cooler heads will prevail and we may now see some progress in the case. Inge's parents deserve to know the truth. Fred and his family deserve relief from the continued lies told about them. And most of all, Inge deserves some justice, no matter how delayed, for her murder. She seems to have been forgotten in this mess.

_________________
Pat A. Wertheim
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Louis van der Vyver · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 5 Location: South Africa

Dear all

Below you will see the final settlement of the action instigated by Prof. and Mrs Lotz against Fred. This implies that Fred is finally totally exonerated. He was acquitted on the criminal charges on 29 November 2007 and this brings any possible further action against him to an end.

This does not affect his civil claim against the State in any case and indications are that that case will commence by August/September 2010.

I would like to extend our most sincere appreciation and thanks to each and everyone who has supported Fred during this saga over the last four years.

Best regards

Louis van der Vyver

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

The parties in the action of Professor and Mrs Lotz against Mr Van der Vyver in CASE NUMBER 4704/2008 agree as follows:
1. The action instigated under case number 4704/2008, as well as the application to combine the actions under the same case number, is withdrawn by both claimants.
2. Professor and Mrs Lotz tender Mr Van der Vyver’s party-and-party costs, including the cost of two council.
3. The parties agree not to instigate any further actions against each other rising from this action or any matter relating to it.
4. Professor and Mrs Lotz distance themselves from the allegations published in the press vis-a-vis Mr Van der Vyver.
5. The parties agree that, except for this agreement, neither party will, whether personally or through an agent, issue any further media comment about the action instigated by Professor and Mrs Lotz against Mr Van der Vyver.
6. Any of the parties may with seven (7) days’ notice to the other party, apply to the High Court to make this agreement an order of the court.
7. This agreement, without any further comment, will be issued jointly to the media by both parties.
8. This settlement is a full and final settlement between the parties.
Signed in Cape Town on 22 May 2009:
Mrs. Lotz
Professor Lotz
Mr F. B. Van der Vyver
(Translated from the original Afrikaans document)

Big Wullie · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 1149 Location: Glasgow

Louis

This is not before time.

Please pass on my best regards to Fred.

I hope he can now put this whole sorry saga behind him and move on.

Will the SAPS now look for the real culprits though ? or will they just do what is normally done here : Release a ststement saying they are not looking for anyone else.

This usually implies they still think they had the right person.

Sincere & Best Wishes To Fred

Wullie
_________________
http://justiceforwulliebeck.webs.com/index.htm

http://williambeck.blogspot.com/

http://williambeck.wordpress.com/about/

Pat A. Wertheim · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 73 Location: USA

In today's news: http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=317793

Iain McKie · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 262 Location: Ayr, Scotland.

Here, here Pat,

The Lotzs’ and the Van der Vyvers’ have suffered enough as they became caught up in vested interests who appeared to care little for Inge or Fred.

Here was a tragedy on a classic scale played out in a less than objective media. Two families wanting the truth. The government and police determined to cover it up.

We can only hope that the ongoing civil action brings closure for everyone concerned so that healing can start.

Vested interests are indeed behind so many miscarriages. Individuals or organisations pursuing their own narrow self interest instead of the needs of those who have suffered.

Thanks to people like yourself, who are willing to stand up to be counted, the innocent are safer and the guilty more vulnerable. While the system might not place any great value on such principles you can be assured that myself and Shirley and undoubtedly Fred and his family do.

Best wishes,

Iain