Johannesburg - The judge in the trial of three Mozambicans alleged to have killed two people during their reign of terror in Muldersdrift, north-west of Joburg, has found that they are linked to the crimes.
Judge Moses Mavundla found that the testimonies of the victims, identity parades, fingerprints and ballistic evidence placed Alfred Zwane, Samson Mandlezi and Manir Ubisi at various crime scenes at different times in the area.
They have been charged with two counts of murder, multiple attempted murders, armed robberies, theft and housebreaking, among others.
The three allegedly shot and killed 13-year-old Alyssa Botha on September 5, 2012. They also shot and wounded her father and older sister. In addition, they are accused of the shooting and killing of another resident, Andre Jordaan, the following week.
Summing up the evidence of Alyssa’s sister, Meghan, Judge Mavundla said the teenager’s father had picked up the family from a friend’s house and had just parked the car when they were attacked.
In her testimony, Meghan said Alyssa had touched her hand and said she had seen something as soon as they got out of the car.
Meghan had put her hand around her to protect her, but she heard a gunshot go off and Alyssa screaming that she had been shot. Alyssa then fell.
Another gunshot went off and, when she fell, she realised that she too had been shot. Her father Anton was also shot.
Their assailants took three cellphones, a wallet and Anton’s wedding ring.
Alyssa died on the scene, but Anton and Meghan survived. Anton lost a kidney.
Neither Anton nor Meghan had seen their attackers as it was dark, but the gun found in the men’s possession linked them to the crime.
During judgment on Tuesday, Judge Mavundla said he also accepted that the trio had indeed been at Jordaan’s place on the night he was shot several times.
Jordaan was shot in front of his son and daughter-in-law after attackers stormed their homes.
His daughter-in-law was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, and as the old man lay there bleeding in front of her, her contractions started.
Judge Mavundla accepted that during the ID parade, Jordaan’s son had pointed out Zwane and Ubisi as the assailants. He did not point out Mandlezi as he had not seen him. However, at the beginning of the trial, Mandlezi pleaded guilty to the robbery at Jordaan’s house.
He said someone called Armando had asked him to accompany him to the house. They had broken into the house and stole household contents and fled. Mandlezi distanced himself from the murder.
However, the judge rejected his version as not true on Tuesday.
“The testimony of the accused was calculated to mislead the court.”
Judgment continues on Wednesday.
The Star