Guard recalls murder drama

Independent Newspapers

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Nelspruit - A man accused of killing his wife asked his security guard to shoot him dead, the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.

A Sapa correspondent reported that the guard, George Mohlala, was testifying against his former employer Edwin Cruywagen, who is accused of killing his wife Francis Cruywagen.

He allegedly beat her to death in June 2011.

“When I reported for duty on that night, my boss, Cruywagen, approached me and said if I had a gun in my possession, I should shoot him dead for what he had done to Francis,” Mohlala told the court.

He said he quit his job soon afterwards.

Mohlala said when he first started working for the Cruywagens in 2010, they were always arguing and were not a 'normal” couple.

“They used to argue but, as whites, they did it behind closed doors. On the night of the incident, I saw Cruywagen leaving the house and I'm positive he was responsible for her death.”

Another witness told the court Cruywagen had called him on the night of the killing, confessing to the crime.

“I asked him to come to my house and after a few minutes he arrived. I did not open the gate for him. We had a small talk. He left and I called police, who arrived and drove with me to the crime scene,” said Patrick Herbst.

He added that Cruywagen - who had been to a rehabilitation centre for substance abuse - had been drinking whiskey on the night.

He said he led police inside the couple's house where they found Francis in the bedroom.

“We found Francis's body lying on the bed and she was still conscious. I spoke to her before she was taken by paramedics to hospital, where she was later confirmed dead,” Herbst told the court.

Evidence presented to the court revealed that Francis was found lying face down on the couple's bed.

She had blood on her head and some was splattered on the floor and on the walls. A hammer with a broken handle was found at the scene and is believed to be the weapon used in the murder.

Cruywagen has denied guilt. He was released on R1000 bail.

The trial was postponed to April 19. - Sapa