Johannesburg - One of the men implicated in the death of Kirsty Theologo after an alleged satanic ritual found God through the incident, the High Court in Johannesburg sitting in Palm Ridge heard on Thursday.
Clinical psychologist Suzette Heath said Robin Harwood seemed to believe his role in Theologo's killing was all part of God's plan.
Theologo, 18, was doused with petrol and set alight on a hill in Linmeyer in October 2011 as part of a “soul-selling” ritual.
She died in hospital a week later, while her friend, who was 14-years-old at the time, survived the attack.
“The whole thing went wrong so he (Harwood) believes this is how God led him to meet with Him 1/8God 3/8,” said Heath.
“He is sad that Kirsty was killed, but remorse is a complex emotion.”
Reading from her notes, Heath said Harwood told her: “I do regret that it happened... I can't look at it in a negative way because then I will break.”
Harwood did not think of helping the girls after they were set alight. He and his co-accused left the injured girls on the hill.
“He said he ran away... He didn't think of helping her.”
Heath told the court she could not ascertain whether Harwood and his co-accused were concerned about the girls' well-being following the attack, as they went clubbing the next day.
Earlier, she explained why Harwood failed to remember all the events that happened on the night of the ritual.
“It could be that he wants to lessen his contribution to the incident,” said Heath.
While Harwood might have been aware of his actions, he might not have fully understood the consequences.
Peer-pressure, alcohol, drugs, and the fact that the crime involved dealing with the devil could have contributed to Harwood not backing out.
Harwood, Linden Wagner, Courtney Daniels, and Harvey Isha are on trial for Theologo's murder and the attempted murder of her friend.
Two others, Jeremy King and Lester Moody, earlier confessed to the crime and were each sentenced to 17 years in prison, five of them suspended.
Sapa