Evidence in marine murder case 'does not back conviction'

Durban - Poor witness testimony and medical evidence that contradicted testimony should not be used to convict the man accused of beating a former Royal Marine to death, the Durban Regional Court heard on Thursday.

Advocate Christo van Schalkwyk told the court none of the State witnesses had seen his client's stomping feet strike Brett Williams.

Van Schalkwyk was giving his closing argument in the trial of Blayne Shepard, who is accused of beating Williams to death outside Durban's Kings Park Stadium on the night of 23 March 2013, after the Sharks played the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby match.