Hubby shot wife 7 times 'in self-defence'

MPUMALANGA businessman Solly Madileng has testified that he shot his wife seven times - "in self-defence".

The incident took place two years ago.

His wife Maki miraculously survived.

Madileng's lawyer told the Temba regional court in Hammanskraal yesterday that his client, charged with attempted murder, had shot his wife while trying to defend himself against her.

Madileng's lawyer, a Mr Venter, said on the night of August 4 2007 his client was on a honeymoon trip with his wife when she accused him of having a girlfriend.

Venter said that during the journey Madileng had put his gun between the front seats of his car. When an argument broke out the accused's wife had grabbed the gun and shot four times at him but missed each time.

But Maki dismissed Venter's statement as "ludicrous", saying there had not been an argument before the shooting took place.

"You are a liar," Maki told Venter.

"We didn't fight at all that night and the fact that he had come to fetch me at my mom's house to try and reconcile bears testimony to this."

She said Madileng had misled her into believing he wanted to mend their ruined marriage and she was under the impression that he was a changed man.

"It is also not true that the gun used to shoot me was between our seats since he always put his gun near the driver's seat," she said.

Venter also disputed that Madileng pushed Maki out of a moving car after shooting her.

A cattle herder found her the next morning.

The case was postponed to November 16 when Maki's doctor is expected to testify.