Don’t know if you caught this in The Times last month with the sub heading, “Accused said he was going to sort it out ‘the Irish way’“

A Western Cape pensioner who shot a man in the knee in a fit of rage over slow service has been handed a R5.7-million bill by the victim, whose leg was later amputated.

Nicholas Murphy, 59, was arrested after firing a shotgun at Conrad Desfontaines, 39, because he took too long to re-upholster a La-Z-Boy chair.

 

A La-Z-Boy Chair
A lot like the one in question

Desfontaines’s lawyer, John Gillespie, has served Murphy with a letter demanding R5.7-million to compensate his client for pain, suffering, loss of income and medical expenses.

Murphy was arrested on July 3 for allegedly shooting Desfontaines at his workshop in Plettenberg Bay after telling witnesses he was going to “sort it out the Irish way”.

He was charged with attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm. The Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court granted him R1500 bail. But Murphy was arrested again a week later after allegedly buying another firearm, a 9mm pistol, to “protect himself” in case the victim retaliated.

Police spokesman Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe said the motive for the shooting and whether it was in connection with the chair, was under investigation .

“Murphy was again arrested on Thursday July 10 for possession of an unlicensed firearm … The charges that are being investigated against him are attempted murder and two separate counts of possession of unlicensed firearms,” said Mangqwengqwe.

Desfontaines said he advertised his upholstery business in a local newspaper. “Murphy phoned … and asked me to come and have a look at his chair — an old brown La-Z-Boy. I went to his house … and gave him a quote, about R800.

“That was about two and half months ago. He said I could take the chair to the workshop. I had taken on too much work and couldn’t finish it in time but kept in contact and he used to say ‘don’t worry too much, just give me a bell when you’re finished,’” said Desfontaines. Just before the shooting, he told Murphy he was moving his workshop to new premises and the chair would be ready within days.

“He came into the workshop. I could see he was drunk and he asked, ‘Where is my chair?’ I said, ‘The chair is here but not complete.’

[It goes on… CLICK HERE]

Aah, now THAT’S the kind of story we’ve been looking for. And be sure to click that link to the rest of the article. The next part of the story includes the quote “I had already cut out material to cover the chair and I’m still going to cover it regardless of him having shot me.“

Fabulous!

[thanks andy]