Daughter warned cops about gun

File Photo: Clyde Robinson

File Photo: Clyde Robinson

Published Apr 15, 2014

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Nelspruit - A woman warned police her father was in possession of a firearm two hours before he shot dead her mother, the Nelspruit Circuit of the High Court in Pretoria heard on Tuesday.

Cynthia Sonto Sengwane, of Sand River near Hazyview, testified against her father, Godfrey Sefwayi Sengwane, 62, a Sapa correspondent reported.

She told the court that during a family ceremony, her mother's cousin Lydia Mpangane told her that her father had a gun and wanted to shoot the neighbour's son.

“I told him what he was planning to do is not good. My father turned on me, saying he was supporting my child. He said if he sees me at his house he is going to shoot and kill me,” she said.

Sengwane is accused of killing his 60-year-old wife Zodwa Mdlalane Sengwane on March 3 last year.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, intimidation and illegal possession of a 9mm Norinco semi-automatic pistol and ammunition.

His daughter told the court that she was “so scared” after he threatened to shoot her that she decided to report it to the police and asked them to search him.

The police did not search him and only spoke to him, the court heard.

She later received a phone call that her father had shot her mother.

Constable Zwelithini Mnisi, of the Hazyview police station, told the court that he went with another officer but the mother had denied that the accused had a firearm.

“The accused also denied having a gun. He gave no proper answer but continued threatening Cynthia. After we spoke to her, Cynthia refused to open an intimidation case and we left.

“We were called after two hours to return to the scene where we found that the deceased had already been shot,” Mnisi said.

The accused's defence, advocate Melanie Erasmus, said her client would deny all testimony against him.

He is out on R1000 bail.

Sapa

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