Teen was drunk on a field, says murder accused

Gift Sibondo

Gift Sibondo

Published Aug 31, 2016

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Caoe Town - A Zimbabwean man accused of killing his underage girlfriend claims he picked her up while she was passed out drunk on a field hours before she died.

This emerged as Gift Sibondo's lawyer, Advocate Riaan Odendaal, wrapped up cross-examination of the state's third witness at the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.

Sibondo, 29, is accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering 15-year-old Elda Japhta in May 2015 at the home they shared at the Zwelitsha informal settlement, Bredasdorp.

His neighbour, Constance Muchinyura, testified that just two days before Japhta's body was found under the accused's bed, she saw him walking home with the girl slumped over his shoulder.

When she asked him what happened, he told her he had assaulted Japhta for not sleeping at home for four nights.

For the first time on Tuesday, the court was given a glimpse of the accused's version of events.

"It is my instructions that he carried Elda to his house, put her down on a bag of clothing to open the door," said Odendaal.

"There was a discussion between you two and you asked Mr Sibondo what happened to her and he said he picked her up on the field and she had drunk beer and fainted."

Constance denied this and said she even saw blood on the hem on his jacket after he put down Japhta's body.

Japhta's friend, Moline Gotosah, was next on the stand, testifying about what happened when Sibondo fetched Japhta at her mother's home that day.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

Daily Voice

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