Nic Diederichs Technical High School slashing

Nic Diederichs Technical High School slashing
Location	Krugersdorp, South Africa
Date	17 August 2008 (2008-08-17) Approx. 7:20 a.m.[1] (SAST)
Target	Pupils and employees at Nic Diederichs Technical High School
Attack type	Slashing, spree killing
Weapon(s)	60-cm samurai sword[2]
Death(s)	1
Injured	3
Perpetrator	Morné Harmse

The Nic Diederichs Technical High School slashing was an incident on 17 August 2008 at the Nic Diederichs Technical High School in Krugersdorp, South Africa, in which 18-year-old matric (Grade 12) student Morné Harmse attacked four people with a samurai sword.^[3] 16-year-old grade 9 pupil Jacques Pretorius was killed,^[4] and two campus gardeners and a second pupil were seriously injured. Harmse later pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and three charges of attempted murder and was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.

Harmse was reported to have "followed" the practice of satanism,^[2][4][5] and according to Superintendent Gerard Labuschagne, "Satan told him to kill the children."^[5] The attack also lead to blaming and criticism of the American heavy metal band Slipknot,^[6] as Harmse had acquired a mask that resembled one of a Slipknot band member's, and had donned on a dress similar to the band's drummer, Joey Jordison,^[7] during the morning of the attack, and had also started listening to the band months prior to the attack.

The attack

At about 7:00 a.m. (SAST), Harmse arrived at school in his school uniform, wearing a brown mask and with black paint on his face.^[5] The mask was reported to be an imitation of the one Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor wears,^[7] which Harmse had referred to as the "maggot mask." Two other masks were found in Harmse's bag; one clown mask from a Hollywood costume store, and the other, a handmade papier-mâché with holes drilled in and painted with tribal marks.^[7] Three samurai swords were also found in his bag, which included a Sekizo Ninja sword and a small Katana.

Victims

1. Jacques Pretorius, pupil, killed by slash to the neck

2. Stefan Bouwer, pupil, injured by slash to the head

3. Joseph Kodiseng, groundskeeper, critically injured

4. Simon Manamela, groundskeeper, critically injured

At about 7:20 a.m.,^[1] during an assembly for a congregation, Harmse took out his 60-cm samurai sword, and slashed 16-year-old pupil Jacques Pretorius' neck, having him die immediately from the injuries. Subsequently, Harmse walked down a passage and slashed and injured 17-year-old grade 9 pupil Stefan Bouwer on the head,^[8] and was then immediately confronted by two gardeners who worked as groundskeepers for the school, Joseph Kodiseng and Simon Manamela,^[8] who were then both slashed and injured. All three have been discharged from a hospital.

Harmse's attack was concluded when he sat down on a brick wall and stuck the sword in the ground, which was grabbed by his younger brother, Corné,^[8] who was standing nearby.^[5] At about 7:45 a.m., Harme was escorted to the principal's office, and fifteen minutes later, was arrested by police without incident. He was temporarily held in the custody of the Krugersdorp Police Station.^[5]

Conviction

On 20 August 2008, Harmse was charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder at the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court.^[9] He was later sent to the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital for mental health evaluation.^[9] On 25 October, after two consecutive months of mental health evaluation and two postponements of the court date, Harmse was ruled to be mentally fit by Magistrate Joachim Nortje.^[10]

The case was transferred to the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg for trial in front of Judge Gerhardus Hattingh. On 14 April 2009 Harmse pleaded guilty to all four charges,^[11] and on 10 October he was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.^[12]

Reactions

Blame on Satanism and media

In the aftermath of the attacks, blame was put on Satanism, which Harmse took an interest in. Harmse claimed that Satan had told him to do it,^[5] and that he followed the practice of Satanism. When police executed a search in Harmse's room, they found "disturbing elements of Satanism" that included ouija boards and "spell books."

In addition to blame on satanism, heavy metal act, Slipknot has been blamed for the attacks as Harmse obtained masks resembling those of the band member's, and was reportedly listening to the band months before.^[7] The blame had caused a lot of attention and criticism towards the band,^[6] and had even received the attention from the band, who initially responded with "no comment" when asked about the blame on them for the attack.

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor later issued a response to Harmse's actions:^[13]

“

Obviously, I’m disturbed by the fact that people were hurt and someone died. As far as my responsibility for that goes, it stops there, because I know our message is actually very positive. I’m not encouraging anybody to kill anybody. I encourage our fans to express themselves, to stick together and to help each other.

”

Apology

The parents of Morné Harmse, Machiel and Liza Harmse, have issued a formal apology towards the Pretorius family.^[14]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "'Want to see something cool?'". News24. August 18, 2008. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2378386,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "'Satanism blamed in wake of Krugersdorp sword slaying'". Cape Argus. August 21, 2008. http://www.capeargus.co.za/?fArticleId=4570367. Retrieved 2008-09-16. 
3. ^ "Harmse 'liked to sharpen sword'". News24. 27 August 2008. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2383751,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-16. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "'Learner blames Satan for murderous rampage'". SABC News. August 18, 2008. http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,175609,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-16. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "'The devil didn’t make him do it'". The Times. August 19, 2008. http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=824987. Retrieved 2008-09-16. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "'Heavy metal band Slipknot is blamed for inspiring schoolboy to stab classmate to death'". The Daily Mail. August 20, 2008. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1047157/Heavy-metal-band-Slipknot-blamed-inspiring-schoolboy-stab-classmate-death.html. Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} "'Now what, sir?'". The Sunday Independent. August 18, 2008. http://www.sunday.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20080818113257862C276982. Retrieved 2008-09-16. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} "'Sword killer wanted to be somebody'". The Sunday Independent. August 24, 2008. http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=828706. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "' Teen in court after Samurai-style killing '". IOL. August 20, 2008. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20080820163038819C618761. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 
10. ^ "Sword slaying suspect fit for trial". 25 October 2008. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=vn20081025092307686C661582&set_id=. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
11. ^ "'Sword killer' pleads guilty". News24. Sapa. 14 April 2009. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sword-killer-pleads-guilty-20090414. Retrieved 21 July 2011. 
12. ^ "Sword killer gets 20 years". News24. Sapa. 10 October 2009. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sword-killer-gets-20-years-20090910. Retrieved 21 July 2011. 
13. ^ "'How deadly is our music ... really?'". Daily Dispatch. August 25, 2008. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20080820163038819C618761. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 
14. ^ "'Satanism blamed in teen's killing'". Calgary Herald. August 25, 2008. http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1b06e0de-7b39-4404-9158-63dc7edc651d. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 

External links

• The Times: Morné Harmse in Court (Flash audio clip)