“When he is angry, he is like an animal.”
These are the words of one of three Cape Town women who her ex-boyfriend allegedly beat.
Bruised face, broken teeth, fractured bones in the wrist – these are just some of the injuries the women at the hands of a 28-year-old man.
Action Society has been attending court appearances in the Kuilsriver Magistrates Court, supporting the victims, who are often scared, nervous and anxious.
In June 2022, the suspect, Kyle Walker, appeared in court. He has been charged with assault, kidnapping, housebreaking and pointing of a firearm. During his appearance, he wore a blue puffer jacket with a white mask and a fresh haircut, and his legal team requested their client be released on bail.
The women he had been in relationships with now calls Walker a ‘serial woman beater’. In court, we heard how Walker beat his girlfriend at the time, Charney Barry, to a point where she was unconscious at least three times. In addition, he left her bruised with fractured bones in her wrist.
He allegedly attacked two other women; however, one matter was provisionally withdrawn. Kim Norton, one of his victims, said Walker was an attractive young man who was good to her when she first met him. She dated him for three years, but the abuse started six months before the relationship ended.
Norton said the abuse started with jealousy, then moved on to twisting her arms when angry, and once he got away with that, she said, the beating began.
“After he beats me, he would propose to me. He would look after my bruises and be nice to me. Obviously, when you love someone, you think they will change for you. Well, that’s what I thought. But, it just… didn’t happen.”
The turning point was in February 2019 when he heard her talking to police and drove her to Paarl Monument in the Western Cape.
“With my arm still in a brace, he parked in a dark place and beat me up. I have a mark on my knee from where he pulled me on the tar. I remember he told me: ‘Tonight I am going to kill you’. I will never forget those words. Thankfully I made it through the night”.
The investigating officer has told Action Society that they will be adding this matter to the court roll.
Bail has been refused, and Walker will remain in custody. He is expected back in court on 27 July 2022.
Action Society is attending court and is assisting and supporting the group of women. We also work closely with the investigating officer and will help when needed to ensure justice. The three women are one of the hundreds and hundreds of women in South Africa who are victims of gender-based violence. Please help us help them by becoming a member of Action Society to support the fight against GBV.
