×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Accused lured victim to killers

NTAMBUDZENI Matzhenene was part of a conspiracy and acted as bait to lure his relative Avhatakali Netshisaulu to his killers, a Johannesburg high court judge said yesterday

Judge Naren Pandya said: "The accused was clearly part of the event of December 7 2006. He organised two hitmen from Zimbabwe. He had been in contact and planning with the other conspirators. Although he was not present at the Caltex garage, he lured the deceased to the place. His statement confirms everything."

Judge Pandya was passing judgment in the trial against Matzhenene, Netshisaulu's widow Mulalo Sivhidzho and alleged hitman Sello Arnold.

Sivhidzho allegedly hired Matzhenene to recruit Arnold and about six other men to kill her husband in 2006. Netshisaulu was kidnapped, robbed and burnt alive inside the boot of his car.

Judge Pandya found that Matzhenene's warning statement, which he made soon after being arrested, amounted to a confession. He said the statement had been corroborated by the facts presented in the trial and his co-accused's warning statements

Matzhenene claimed to have fabricated the contents of the statement because he was being tortured by police.

"It is clear from the statement that far too much detail was known to the accused. For him to say he fabricated the story, in the short time that he spent with the people he made the statements to, is unbelievable," the judge said.

In the statement, Matzhenene describes how he met Sivhidzho and the men he had hired to do the killing about three hours before the incident.

He said Sivhidzho came in a car which she said would be driven by Netshisaulu later that night. She then phoned to inform him that her husband had left the house to meet him at the Caltex garage in Honeydew, where the killers were waiting.

"It is clear to me that at that time, the plan was beginning to be put into action and roleplayers were being brought together. The accused then went home after everything had been finalised.

"This shows his involvement in the plot, he was to recruit the killers and that is exactly what he did," the judge said.

Judgment continues today.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.