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A South African farmer is on trial after he allegedly ran over a six-year-old boy who was grabbing a fallen orange from the ground.
70-year-old Christoffel Johannes Stoman faces two charges of attempted murder and a charge of reckless and negligent driving in connection to the September 20 incident during which he's accused of intentionally ramming into the child, per the Latin Times.
The child's mother, Magdalene Jantijies, told police that she and her son were shopping in town when he reached through a fence to pick up two fallen oranges. Stoman accused the six-year-old boy of intentionally stealing from his farm.
Jantijies told eCNA that Stoman drove toward them shouting "Stand there" multiple times. "I thought he was going to stop. He aimed directly at us in a corner, and I screamed, 'Help! Help!' He said, 'I'm going to kill you by driving into you.'"
The collision left the six-year-old child with two broken legs. The boy is currently in the hospital where he's awaiting surgery.
The boy's mother said Stoman hasn't made any efforts to help them after the incident. According to LBC, Stoman told police he "would do it again." Community members alleged the farmer had previously engaged in similar crimes.
Stoman has been denied bail amid his trial.
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