When Nicolette Lotter was writing death threats to her parents, as ordered to by her former boyfriend Mathew Naidoo, she did not think he would carry out the plan, the Durban High Court heard on Wednesday.
“I didn't think he was serious about the death threats, I thought he was upset and blowing off steam,” Nicolette said.
Nicolette, 29, her brother Hardus, 23, and Naidoo, 25, stand accused of murdering the siblings' parents, Maria Magdalena “Rickie” Lotter, 52, and Johannes Petrus “Johnny” Lotter, 53, in July 2008.
Naidoo, 25, initially pleaded not guilty, but later changed his plea to guilty. He said he did not murder the couple, but helped cover up the crimes.
Nicolette told the court Naidoo told her what to write in the letter before she gave it to Hardus to type. She told the court Naidoo had encouraged her to “strengthen” Hardus before the murders, because he was weak.
“He told me I had to go home and pray with Hardus because he was weak. He told me to pray with him to God that everything goes according to plan.”
Nicolette told the court she stabbed her mother because she believed it was God's will. She believed Naidoo was the son of God and her parents had to die.
“This was a command from God. It was a test to me.”
Nicolette only realised Naidoo had been lying about who he was when she was at the police station, and Captain Shane Smith told her he was the devil.
“That guy is the devil... the devil comes to steal and destroy,” she said.
She said she believed Smith because her parents were dead. That was when she decided to tell the truth.
Nicolette testified Naidoo planned the killings so he could have her inheritance. She said she had never read her parents' will, but Naidoo had an interest in it.
“It caught his eye more than mine. It's not like I was waiting for my parents to die,” she said.
The trial continues. – Sapa