Pub toilet todger tiff ends in bloodbath

Three men were last week shot dead in a south Durban tavern after a "remark about a patron's penis size" turned seriously nasty, South Africa's Independent Online reports.

Police inspector Michael Read explained that two groups of men were in the Merseyside Pub and Tavern in Umbilo enjoying the football clash between England and Croatia. He said: "At some stage, one man from each group went into the tavern's toilets and there was an argument over the size of their penises.

"At some stage some of the men went outside and there was a scuffle. One group returned to the tavern to watch the game and the other group remained outside. The men then went to their cars, opened their boots and returned to the tavern where they opened fire on the five men."

Tavern employee Michelle Andrew recounted: "Things turned nasty very quickly and they decided to have a fight outside. I decided to herd regular customers to the back of the bar when one group of men, who were regulars at the pub, walked back in.

"I was trying to get patrons inside and to close the door but they were big, strong guys and they just barged in. One of the guys who was killed actually pulled me out of the way."

Police named the victims as Nick Jansen van Rensburg, 57, and Rory Menzes, 40 - both shot in the chest - and Shawn Strydom, 33, who was shot in the head. All three died at the scene.

Andrew concluded: "One of the patrons had been coming here for twelve years. I can't explain what it was like to sit on a bloody floor and comfort people you've known for a long time as they are dying."

Inspector Read reported: "The station commissioner of the Umbilo police station then formed a task team and by 4am four men had been arrested." ®