Pastor unreliable witness - judge

A judge yesterday called the church leader accused of killing a 9-year-old East Rand girl for muthi an untrustworthy witness.

Judge Piet Meyer was delivering judgment in the Johannesburg High Court sitting in the Randburg Magistrate's Court during the application by Monde Tokwe, pastor of the Eden Zionist Church, and his wife Nolufefe Magasane to be discharged.

Tokwe, 48, and Magasane, 50, are accused of killing and mutilating Yolelwa Sikweyiya, whose family attended his church in Katlehong.

The state alleges the accused killed the girl to boost the dwindling number of congregants at Tokwe's church.

Their co-accused, Fundile Sidumo and Vusi Mofokeng, have been acquitted.

Meyer said Tokwe's evidence was full of contradictions when contrasted to that of state witnesses.

"Accused one was unreliable, always evasive during cross-examination. His evidence on disputed issues was beyond doubt false. Evidence of the state witnesses was consistent and corroborating."

Meyer said evidence of assault by police aimed at extracting a confession from Tokwe was also in dispute.

Judgment continues.