“It has turned my life upside down and I don’t know how to put it all together again.”
|||“It has turned my life upside down and I don’t know how to put it all together again.”
These were the words of Jessica Livesey as she told how the holidays were “absolutely horrific” for the family who are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their son and brother, Michael, 20, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident last year.
Livesey, a popular surfer from Durban North and former Northwood Boys High prefect, was on his way home from the beach on a Saturday evening at the end of July last year, when he was struck down. He was reported to have been riding his skateboard and carrying his surfboard when he was hit by a bakkie on Chelsea Drive, a mere three houses away from his home.
Yesterday, the accused in the case, Jevan de Vlieg, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
He has been charged with culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving and the alleged unauthorised removal of a vehicle involved in an accident.
In the courtroom, which was packed with Livesey’s family and friends, De Vlieg appeared sombre in the dock as the magistrate set down the trial date for April 23. His bail was extended.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Livesey’s mother, Cathy, and his sister, Jessica, spoke to the media about trying to come to terms with their loss.
Fighting back the tears, they recounted some “beautiful stories about Mike” posted on his Facebook page, which have given them comfort and courage.
Jessica said she has been trying to move on, “but that our loss is so huge, I don’t know what to do.
“But it has shifted my perspective and to see what is important in life. A loved one can be there one minute and then gone the next.
“I can’t prejudge what happened that night, but I don’t want another family to go through this”.
Close family friend, Dean Macpherson, described Livesey as “a larger-than-life character”.
“We had a trip with all the guys down to Mozambique over the holidays, but there was an empty space that could not be filled.
“We don’t know what happened, but the family need specifics and will get answers to their questions during the trial.”
Macpherson added that there needed to be a “paradigm shift” among SA drivers to take responsibility when out on the road.
“There need to be consequences.
“Mike’s death shook the whole Durban North community.
“He had his whole life ahead of him,” he said. - Tanya Waterworth