British national Anthony Cooper was on Thursday found not guilty of causing the fire on Table Mountain that allegedly caused the death of British tourist Janet Chesworth. Cooper appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court, charged with culpable homicide, as well as contravening the National Forestry Act.
British national Anthony Cooper on Wednesday told the Cape Town Regional Court of his frantic efforts to put out a veld fire on the slopes of Table Mountain — caused by a cigarette he allegedly flicked from his fingers as he stood smoking near his car. Cooper has been charged with culpable homicide.
Despite police warnings that he had no obligation to say anything about a fire he had allegedly started on the slopes of Table Mountain, British national Anthony Cooper told the flying squad it had been an accident, the Cape Town Regional Court heard on Wednesday.
A taxi driver saw British citizen Anthony Cooper flick a burning cigarette on to dry grass, which started a runaway fire on Table Mountain, the Cape Town Regional Court heard on Tuesday. The driver, Craig Ward, testified before magistrate Wilma van der Merwe in Cooper’s trial on a charge of culpable homicide and one of contravening the National Forestry Act.