THE Delmas Circuit Court yesterday dismissed an application by former Big Brother reality television star and security manager at Aurora mine to have his case thrown out.

Bradford Wood and his four co-accused had made an application to have charges of murder and attempted murder withdrawn, arguing that the state's case was weak.

However, Judge Andre Louw yesterday said though there was a question of credibility from some of the witnesses, there was a strong case against the five men.

"There is evidence that all five accused were armed," he said.

Louw said the fact that there were contradictions, did not mean there was a lack of evidence.

Wood, Nico Pretorius, Herbert Trouw, Willem Coetzer and Micky Mazela are on trial for murder and attempted murder.

The state alleges the men killed Mathews Sithole, Joy Chauke, Stanley Chilokwana and Kenneth Sithole and attempted to kill another five illegal miners.

After the ruling, Wood testified that there was a shootout between the security guards and the illegal miners. He said he fired shots in self-defence.

"We went down the mine and when we reached the walkway, we heard voices. As the head of security, I took the lead. I heard gunshots and instinctively fired back."

He said he could not tell how many shots he fired or how many were fired at them.

Wood also told the court that no firearms were recovered from the mine or the illegal miners.