Kotze ‘threw kitten’ in jealous rage
|Published
15/04/2013 Johan Kotze and his co-accused Andries Sithole, Frans Mphaka and Pieta Mohlane during their court appearance at Pretoria High Court. Picture: Phill Magakoe 15/04/2013 Johan Kotze and his co-accused Andries Sithole, Frans Mphaka and Pieta Mohlane during their court appearance at Pretoria High Court. Picture: Phill Magakoe
Pretoria -
The so-called “Modimolle monster” Johan Kotze emotionally told the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday he threw his daughter's kitten from his bed the night he saw his wife with another man.
“I did something I never do… I very aggressively threw (the kitten) away from me.”
He is accused of assaulting Ina Bonnette, killing her son and forcing his workers to gang-rape her. Kotze testified he saw Bonnette with another man at a dance on New Year's Eve in 2011.
“I was terribly upset. I froze,” he said, taking long pauses and looking at his feet.
Judge Bert Bam asked Kotze if he needed to take a break, but he declined. He said he saw Bonnette hugging and kissing a man with whom she left the dance hall. He followed them.
“It was clear they wanted a relatively dark place where they could be their normal selves. I don't know what went through my head. I was probably powerless.”
He said he later left and went to his house, then went to Bonnette's house.
Bonnette attended court proceedings on Tuesday morning. She often shook her head during Kotze's testimony.
Kotze, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Frans Mphaka are accused of murdering Kotze's 19-year-old stepson Conrad Bonnette at Kotze's house in Modimolle on January 3. They are also accused of kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette that day.
A plea of not guilty was noted on Kotze's behalf after he refused to enter a plea, and claimed his accountability and ability to follow and contribute to court proceedings were in question.
His three co-accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges. They claimed Kotze forced them to take part in the attack on Bonnette and said they had only pretended to rape her.
Bonnette testified Kotze tortured her with various objects before instructing the other three to rape her. She told the court she listened to her son pleading for his life before he was shot in the head and heart. - Sapa