Kimberley - The man accused of killing his former girlfriend and mother of his child with an assegaai, allegedly reacted after discovering that she was having an affair with an acquaintance.
Allegations of cheating by the 27-year-old woman on Monday surfaced during the trial of her ex-boyfriend, Shadrack Boikanyo, 43, who appeared in the Northern Cape High Court on a charge of murder.
He is accused of killing Lerato Olifant on March 8 last year in Galeshewe.
According to the testimony of Tshidiso Fanampe, a friend of Boikanyo, he woke up when he heard a loud bang on the door.
“I was spending the night at the house of my friend, Lucky, in Seochwareng Street, Galeshewe, when I was woken up.
“I saw Lerato, Shadrack and Clive (the acquaintance, who was renting a room at Lucky’s house) standing inside the house. I could see that Shadrack was angry and I asked what was going on but no-one answered.
“Shadrack grabbed Lerato and pulled her outside towards his car. A few seconds later, I heard Lerato scream and I went outside. Lerato was running and Shadrack was chasing her. I saw that Lerato’s dress was torn at the back.
“She ran into Oom Noel’s house while Shadrack returned and got into his car. He then drove to Oom Noel’s house, stopped, opened the boot and took out a weapon. He pushed Oom Noel aside and entered the yard.
“I slowly walked to Oom Noel’s house. As I approached the kitchen door, Shadrack came walking out... he was covered in blood and was holding the weapon. He walked past me and got into his car and drove off. I heard people talking inside, saying that it seemed as if she was dead,” Fanampe said.
Advocate Ferdie van Heerden, legal representative for the accused, claimed that Olifant was having an affair with Clive.
Van Heerden submitted that, according to the accused, Fanampe had told him that there was nothing between Clive and Lerato. He further stated that it would be Boikanyo’s testimony that he and Oliphant were on good terms after he initially suspected the affair, but he became suspicious again when the deceased received a message on the Saturday.
Olifant confronted his friends to find out if they knew anything about the affair.
They, however, gave their assurances that there was nothing between Clive and the deceased.
“According to the accused, the couple got into an argument at the deceased’s mother’s house and he left and went back to his house in Homelite,” Van Heerden said.
Fanampe said that he could not testify on what happened between the accused and the deceased during that time, however, he did receive a call from her asking where they were.
He said he told her that they are at Shake’s place and it was also during this time that Clive apparently disappeared.
“We were all at Shake’s place and I later did not see Clive, but did not make anything of it as we were all having a good time,” Fanampe said.
Van Heerden put it to Fanampe that Clive said in his statement that he received a call from the deceased.
Van Heerden submitted further that, according to Clive, he received a call from Lerato and she told him that Boikanyo was in Homelite and Clive arranged transport to fetch Lerato from her mother’s house. They went to Lucky’s house, where they stayed for the remainder of the evening.
“The accused submits that he saw the deceased and Clive walking out of Lucky’s house the next morning. They were holding each other.”
This case continues on Tuesday.
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