Vermeulen seeks to settle out of court

Vermeulen seeks to settle out of court

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By Staff Reporter

FORMER Zimbabwe Cricket team batsman, Mark Vermeulen, confirmed mentally unstable by three private psychiatrists, is seeking an out of court settlement with Zimbabwe Cricket over the malicious damage to property charges he is facing.

Vermeulen was charged after setting ablaze the Cricket Academy in Harare.

Zimbabwe Cricket sources revealed that Vermeulen's father, a dentist in the United Kingdom for 20 years, has offered to re-build the structures and restitute the lost property on condition that the organisation withdraws the charges against his son.

The cricketer, has admitted the charges, but attributed the actions to his mental health problems that date back to his childhood when he was hit by a cricket ball.

Last Thursday, Advocate Eric Matinenga, for the defence, applied that charges against Vermeulen be dropped as he was mentally ill, but the State strongly opposed this, saying he had to be examined by government doctors first.

Vermeulen was remanded to June 16 this year after the State indicated that the docket needed to be sent to the Attorney General's office for his opinion in terms of the Mental Health Act.

Prosecutors say Vermeulen had a misunderstanding with ZC bosses at the offices, during which he threatened to cause damage to the institute.

Two weeks later, he allegedly drove to the academy at night armed with a bottle of methylated spirit and a lighter, and left the premises in flames on two occasions.

He was using his brother's vehicle that was positively identified by the ZC officials.
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