THE sugarcane serial killer was found guilty in the Durban high court yesterday.
Judge King Ndlovu found Thozamile Taki guilty on all 26 charges relating to the murder of 13 women whose bodies were found in the sugarcane plantations in Umzinto and Port St Johns in 2007.
Taki's co-accused, Hlengiwe Nene, was found not guilty and asked to step down from the dock.
"The person who lured the woman, promised them jobs but killed them and dumped their bodies in sugarcane fields, was none other than Thozamile Taki. The state has proven their case beyond reasonable doubt on all 26 counts," said Judge Ndlovu.
The judge said Nene was a victim of circumstance.
"Accused number two (Nene) found herself in this trouble for not co-operating with police. Had she done so, she would not be in this mess," said Judge Ndlovu.
During the investigation, police conducted a search of Nene's home in September 2007.
"A cellphone was found. Accused number two claimed it was hers but it was of Charity Khumalo's (deceased).
"She said she bought it at Jet stores and could not find the papers of the purchase as proof," said Judge Ndlovu.
He said all witnesses were credible, unbiased, reliable and honest.
"Accused number one's evidence was unsubstantial, his story was highly improbable."
Judge Ndlovu said that in both identity parades conducted in Hibberdene and Brighton Beach, all witnesses pointed out Taki without hesitation. "That could not be a coincidence," he said.
He said evidence showed that Taki had used the deceaseds' cellphones.
Judge Ndlovu said the way the evidence was presented showed that the killings were the work of a serial killer.
"All deceased were young and had ambitions to get jobs or were already working and wanted to get better jobs. When they left their homes they told their families that they had met a man who would get them jobs in factories or companies."
He said the pattern was similar, with their bodies being dumped in sugarcane fields and their personal items taken from them.
"This modus operandi proved that it was the same person operating like a serial killer. We are satisfied with the evidence," said Judge Ndlovu.
Thobile Jama, related to Khanyisile Ncayana who was last seen alive in May 2008, said she wanted Nene to be found guilty as well.
"We are happy about the judgment. We could not sleep at night not knowing what happened to her," said Jama.
Sugarcane serial killer found guilty
THE sugarcane serial killer was found guilty in the Durban high court yesterday.
Judge King Ndlovu found Thozamile Taki guilty on all 26 charges relating to the murder of 13 women whose bodies were found in the sugarcane plantations in Umzinto and Port St Johns in 2007.
Taki's co-accused, Hlengiwe Nene, was found not guilty and asked to step down from the dock.
"The person who lured the woman, promised them jobs but killed them and dumped their bodies in sugarcane fields, was none other than Thozamile Taki. The state has proven their case beyond reasonable doubt on all 26 counts," said Judge Ndlovu.
The judge said Nene was a victim of circumstance.
"Accused number two (Nene) found herself in this trouble for not co-operating with police. Had she done so, she would not be in this mess," said Judge Ndlovu.
During the investigation, police conducted a search of Nene's home in September 2007.
"A cellphone was found. Accused number two claimed it was hers but it was of Charity Khumalo's (deceased).
"She said she bought it at Jet stores and could not find the papers of the purchase as proof," said Judge Ndlovu.
He said all witnesses were credible, unbiased, reliable and honest.
"Accused number one's evidence was unsubstantial, his story was highly improbable."
Judge Ndlovu said that in both identity parades conducted in Hibberdene and Brighton Beach, all witnesses pointed out Taki without hesitation. "That could not be a coincidence," he said.
He said evidence showed that Taki had used the deceaseds' cellphones.
Judge Ndlovu said the way the evidence was presented showed that the killings were the work of a serial killer.
"All deceased were young and had ambitions to get jobs or were already working and wanted to get better jobs. When they left their homes they told their families that they had met a man who would get them jobs in factories or companies."
He said the pattern was similar, with their bodies being dumped in sugarcane fields and their personal items taken from them.
"This modus operandi proved that it was the same person operating like a serial killer. We are satisfied with the evidence," said Judge Ndlovu.
Thobile Jama, related to Khanyisile Ncayana who was last seen alive in May 2008, said she wanted Nene to be found guilty as well.
"We are happy about the judgment. We could not sleep at night not knowing what happened to her," said Jama.
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