Summary in ‘Modimolle monster’ trial starts
|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 - High Court in Pretoria Acting Judge Bert Bam began his judgment on Monday in the trial of “Modimolle Monster” Johan Kotze and his co-accused with a summary of the evidence.
He read out the seven charges against the four accused. These include murder, kidnapping, rape and attempted murder.
He then started summing up the State's evidence. He briefly ran through the testimony of Kotze's ex-wife Ina Bonnette.
Kotze, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Sello Mphaka are on trial for allegedly murdering Kotze's stepson Conrad Bonnette, 19, and kidnapping, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette in his Modimolle, Limpopo, home on January 3, 2012.
Kotze has denied guilt, claiming he could not be held accountable for his actions that day.
Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka have claimed that Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate. They said they pretended to rape Bonnette because they could not get erections.
On Monday, the testimony of police cellphone expert Francois Moller was also dealt with. Moller testified about the contact between Kotze and his co-accused before and after the crimes.
There were 48 calls from Kotze to one of his co-accused between December and January 3. Bam also went over the defence's case.
During his testimony, Kotze told the court that he found Bonnette in a room in his house. He said his three co-accused were attacking her.
“There was a big mess,” Kotze testified. He said he tried to help Bonnette, but he was confused and at stages left the room.
While Bam read the summary of Kotze's testimony, Bonnette, who was accompanied by friends, often shook her head. - Sapa