Court mulls farm murder confessions

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Published Jun 12, 2014

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Pietermaritzburg - The Pietermaritzburg High Court will decide next week if alleged confessions by three men accused of an Underberg farm attack could be admitted as evidence.

The men denied confessing to police, however their statements described details of the attack which investigators did not know at the time, the court heard on Thursday.

Judge Ferome Mnguni was hearing a trial within a trial to decide whether to admit the statements as evidence.

Mnguni was expected to make his ruling on the admissibility of the statements on Tuesday.

State prosecutor Netleton Buthelezi asked that the statements be admitted as evidence against the men.

The men, Tsepiso Ramongale, 20, Bongnkosi Nyawose, 33, and Happy Gcina, 24, all from the Bulwer area, have pleaded not guilty to the murder and aggravated robbery of Daniel Knight, and the assault and robbery of his partner Dilys Bucher on their Underberg farm on October 13 last year.

Ramongale, who dictated his statement to a police captain, described the planning and execution of the crime and the theft of Knight's three firearms and two vehicles.

Knight was beaten with a large hammer and wrench, causing major head injuries. Bucher was beaten and tied to the pedestal of a wash basin. A surgeon's glove was stretched over her nostrils and mouth and tied to the back of her head.

Sapa

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