Motshidisi Mokwena
A 14-year-old burglar accused of killing world-renowned photo-journalist John Rubython was found guilty in the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday.
British-born Rubython, 58, was stabbed on April 11 this year when he surprised a burglar in his Woodstock home. He died as a result of his wounds in Groote Schuur Hospital the next day. The youth, from Delft, was arrested soon afterwards.
In the trial, held in camera, the juvenile burglar, who may not be named, was charged with one count of murder. He pleaded guilty and was convicted by Magistrate Vick Gibson.
In a statement read by his lawyer, Adiel Jansen, the youngster said he knew what he was doing but did not think he would kill Rubython.
Said the youngster: "I saw that windows were open in this house and I decided to go inside and look for valuables I would take." He added that he was intercepted by Rubython and tried to run away but that, because Rubython's grip was "too tight", he became afraid and stabbed him several times.
"I knew the whole time what I was doing and that my actions were wrong," he said.
Rubython's partner and mother of their baby, Melanie Junter from Germany, told the court she had been dependent on Rubython and that her visa had been extended to January 2000 so that she could attend the murder trial.
Junter testified that they had gone to bed about 10.30pm. "I was reading in bed when I heard a noise outside. I lay in bed and the noise continued. When I heard a familiar tinkling sound I knew it was inside the house.
"I woke John up and he went to investigate. I could hear him talking but because he was not shouting I thought he was talking to someone we knew. I left the bedroom and when I got to the lounge, I saw John holding (the boy) and asking him what he was doing there."
Junter said that when Rubython and the youngster started scuffling, Rubython told her to phone the police. When she returned she saw the youth had a knife and Rubython was pressing him against the wall. The youngster was stabbing him. She said she became hysterical. "We pleaded with the boy to leave us alone because we had a baby."
The youngster ordered Junter to open the door but she could not find the key. "I went down on my knees looking for the keys but there was so much blood on the floor I fell over. I somehow managed to open the gate and the door and he literally ran over me and fled.
"I saw John standing in the hallway. He just looked at me, staggered backwards and fell. He never said anything," Junter told the court.
The youngster is to be sentenced on December 7.