SA Air Force employee Pieter Pretorius (59) of Danville, said in his bail affidavit that he intended to plead not guilty to a murder charge.

He had been employed by the Air Force for the past 27 years and married for 37 years. The State did not oppose bail and the court agreed that Pretorius did not pose a flight risk.

The case was postponed to 24 August for further investigation.

Members of his family, as well as his sister's boyfriend, police Inspector Marius van Dyk, were at a braai on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the Blue Bulls' victory over the Crusaders.

Van Dyk allegedly got into a fight with his girlfriend that turned physical. Other family members tried to stop it, said police spokesperson Captain Tessa Jansen.

Pretorius allegedly fired a warning shot and Van Dyk apparently stormed at and tried to disarm him. Van Dyk was shot in the chest in the struggle for the firearm. The 48-year-old man died on the scene. He was based at the Silverton police station.

Sapa

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