Groom to be sentenced for wedding venue fire

25 October 2013 - 08:24
By Sapa
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A Bloemfontein man who set alight his wedding venue is expected to be sentenced in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The Beeld reported on October 4 that Jean Greyling, 28, admitted to setting alight Emoya Estate in July.

He had booked it as his wedding venue, but the owner cancelled the arrangement a day before the nuptials were to take place as Greyling had reportedly failed to pay the deposit.

He and his fiancee, Lianne Meyer Bekker, subsequently got married at a Bloemfontein restaurant.

"What I did is not right. It was a night of madness. I didn't want to hurt anyone," Greyling was quoted as telling the court.

The owner of the wedding venue, Buks Westraad, reportedly said in court on Thursday that although he accepted Greyling's apology, it would not compensate for the losses he suffered.