PRETORIA, South Africa - Two policemen charged with assault for setting dogs on three black men in a videotaped attack said Tuesday that they acted under duress and had tried not to hurt the victims.
Lawyers for Nicolaas Kenneth Loubser and Dino Guiotto argued before Pretoria High Court that their clients were forced by senior officers to take part in what was called a dog "training session".
Four other policemen charged in the 1998 event admitted guilt and were sentenced in 2001. One is serving a five-year-term, the others were sentenced to four years in prison.
Loubser and Guiotto pleaded not guilty and are now having their own, separate trial.
The video of the attack was apparently made by one of the officers. Broadcast by state television, it showed the police setting their dogs on three Mozambicans, punching them and yelling racial slurs.
Loubser and Guiotto said their superiors threatened their jobs if they did not participate and also warned they might set the dogs on them.
In the trial of the four other accused, the court heard that illegal aliens, such as the Mozambicans who were filmed being attacked in the 1998 video, were usually the targets in such practice sessions because they were expected not to speak out.
Loubser and Guiotto have resigned from the police force.
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