Three men and a teenager who doused a woman companion with petrol before setting her alight in an argument about a missing cellphone pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder in the Cape High Court on Tuesday.
Ashwin Hammers, 20, Myron Daniels, 28, Ashley Lategan, 24, and a teenager who may not be named, appeared before judge Patricia Goliath.
They are accused of the murder of Monique Martin, 19, at a house in the Strand while smoking the drug tik mixed with mandrax in October 2006.
Prosecutor Piet Steyn handed to the court a summary of facts which tells how a screaming Martin ran from the house with her clothing alight.
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According to the summary Daniels fell asleep on her bed after smoking the drug mixture and could not find his cellphone when he awoke.
Because Daniels and Martin had been in an intimate relationship, Daniels immediately confronted her about his missing cellphone.
She denied having it whereupon Daniels sent the teenager to a nearby service station to fill a plastic container with petrol.
A witness to the incident Manuel Swanepoel told the court he knew what the petrol was for, but that he was too afraid of Daniels to intervene.
When the youth returned with the petrol, Daniels ordered Lategan to empty the container onto Martin, and Daniels then set her alight.
Prior to being doused with petrol, the victim was set upon by Hammers, Daniels and Lategan, who punched and kicked her, Swanepoel told the court.
The case continues on Wednesday. - Sapa
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