Johannesburg - Three men accused of murdering two men and raping one of their partners at Rhodes Park in Kensington, Johannesburg, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday.
They were allegedly part of a 12-man gang that attacked two couples walking in the park in Kensington on the evening of October 17 last year. They face charges of assault, robbery, rape, sexual assault, and murder
Thabo Nkala, 25, was dressed in a white shirt, Admore Ndlovu, 23, wore a Springbok jacket, and Mduduzi Mathibela Lawrence, 32, wore a maroon shirt with white stripes.
All three men looked down with their hands folded behind their backs while the charges against them were read out in the high court sitting in Palm Ridge.
On Monday, State prosecutor Monde Mbaqa told the court that he was informed by an investigating officer that a fourth suspect has been arrested in Zimbabwe.
According to the charge sheet, the group, armed with a gun and a knife, forced their victims to lie on the ground. They used a knife to cut off the panties of both women. They raped one and sexually assaulted the other. They allegedly forced their partners to undress, tied them up and threw them into the lake, where they drowned.
The gang also allegedly stole their clothes, jewellery, and cellphones.
African News Agency