CLAIM: BRONX OWNER & ALLEGED KILLER WERE LOVERS

The trial of the three men accused of killing Cape Town gay nightclub owner Bruno Bronn is now under way, with a startling claim coming to light on Wednesday.

SAPA has reported that one of the accused, Frederick Willem John Coetzer, has been named as being Bronn’s lover as well as assisting him with maintenance at his clubs.

Dawid Human, who was a DJ at the Bronx nightclub, told the court that it “was common knowledge” that the two men had “a working relationship and a sexual relationship.”

He further claimed that two weeks before his murder Bronn was planning on ending the relationship.

It was also revealed that a hammer, rubber mallet, and chisel were found in Bronn’s bedroom. It’s not clear at this point what the significance of this is.

Bronn’s body was found by a domestic worker at his Sea Point home on 7 February 2012. It is believed that he was strangled to death. He was 50-years-old.

Coetzer, who has previous drug possession and assault convictions, and his co-accused Fareez Allie and Achmat Toffa have been charged with premeditated murder and aggravated armed robbery. They have pleaded not guilty.

In 2012, one of Bronn’s close friends, Phillip King, claimed that Coetzer also worked as a bouncer at Bronn’s clubs and had previously lived in the apartment below the victim’s house.

According to King, Bronn was in fear of his life after he accused Coetzer of stealing money and traveller’s cheques from him.

Located in Cape Town’s Green Point gay village area, Bronn’s Bronx bar and the Navigaytion club above it were among the most popular gay nightclubbing spot in the city for years. The venue has since been demolished.