BEELD (Johannesburg, S Africa) 28 August 06 Sssilence in court! (Lucia Swart)
Durban: It wasn't a snake in the grass that caused all the drama at Ramsgate magistrate's court on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Monday - it was one in court.
Court interpreter R S Madlebe was speaking just after noon on Monday when he suddenly switched to English: "m'Lord, I'm sorry, but there is a snake next to the accused."
Magistrate Charlotte Dickinson said a green boomslang slithered into sight.
"It was hot and the case was becoming quite drawn-out just before lunch.
"The interpreter was droning on in a monotone. He was in the middle of a sentence when suddenly, without moving a muscle or blinking an eye, he apologised and told me there was a snake," said Dickinson with a laugh.
She adjourned the court and everyone scurried out. The accused was taken back to the court cells.
The court orderly caught the snake (which was about half a metre long) and released it outside."
Sssilence in court!