Johannesburg - A game using toilet paper and matchsticks indicated who should be sacrificed in an apparent satanic ritual killing, a Johannesburg court heard on Tuesday.
This was the testimony of Lester Moody, 19, who is serving a prison sentence under a plea bargain reached after he confessed to being part of the killing in October 2011.
“We asked the game if Kirsty should be the prostitute and it said yes,” he told the High Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court.
Kirsty Theologo, 18, was doused with petrol and set alight on a hill behind the Linmeyer swimming pool in Julius Street, Johannesburg, in October 2011. She died a week later at the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital.
Her friend, who was 14-years-old at the time, was also burnt, but survived.
A second accused, Jeremy King, also entered into a plea bargain with the State in an attempt to get a lesser sentence.
Four other accused, Lindon Wagner, Robin Harwood, Harvey Isha, and Courtney Daniels, have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault to cause grievous bodily harm.
Testifying in their trial on Tuesday, Moody said the matches were wrapped in toilet paper. A question would be asked and the way in which the matches fell out of the toilet paper determined whether the answer to the question was a yes or a no.
He said he played the game with King and Wagner the day before the ritual.
Theologo walked into the kitchen while he and the other boys were playing and said she would be sacrificed.
“She said we should drink her blood, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”
Moody was asked whether it was possible that Theologo and the people she was with in the lounge could have heard them talking of a sacrifice.
“Even if we were speaking loudly, I don't think they heard us because the music was on at the time,” said Moody.
He said they had asked the game about Theologo being a prostitute after reading a Bible verse from the Book of Revelations.
When asked about the verse, Moody at first seemed to have forgotten it but then recited it to the court.
“You know it off by heart?” asked Judge Geraldine Borchers.
“Eventually it got into my head,” Moody replied.
He said he first came across the verse in his room after a day of playing soccer in the park. There was a Bible in his bedroom and when he lifted it he came across Revelations 17:16.
“I read it repeatedly, as the verse confused me.”
While he was testifying, Wagner shook his head.
The trial continues. - Sapa