The two young men accused of setting their “friend” alight in a “satanic ritual” were expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
The two, aged 19 and 21, handed themselves over to police after petrol was poured over 18-year-old Kirsty Theologo, before a burning match was thrown at her.
As the flames engulfed her, her face and head were bashed with rocks and, as she tried to breathe, her throat and lungs were badly burnt. Kirsty suffered third and fourth degree burns both inside and outside her body.
Her mother, Sylvia Theologo, broke down on Monday at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s burns unit.
The Grade 11 pupil at Die Vakkel Hoërskool underwent surgery later.
Her 16-year-old friend, known only as Bronwyn, who was also badly burnt in the attack, is recovering in a private hospital.
“What kind of a person does this?” the tearful mother asked. According to Theologo, she was told that the people who burnt Kirsty and Bronwyn had even joined Kirsty’s and Bronwyn’s church in a bid to befriend them.
On Friday, the girls were at their church’s youth service when the group bombarded Bronwyn with calls, asking her and Kirsty to join them at the koppie behind the Linmeyer swimming pool on Julius Street.
She says the girls were offered alcohol, but Kirsty spat it out because of some funny taste, while Bronwyn finished it.
She said Bronwyn began vomiting. One of the boys started dancing and Kirsty started laughing.
“Suddenly she felt wet, and the dancing guy lit a match, threw it at her and said ‘laugh at this’,” Theologo said.
The wet stuff was petrol.
When Bronwyn saw her friend burning, she tried to help her by rolling her in sand, but the flames set her alight.
Kirsty’s aunt, Theano du Toit, said Kirsty has five gashes on her head and her nose had been flattened.
Her sister Samantha said Kirsty had walked to Rosettenville, about 2km away, together with her friend.
Warrant Officer Lorraine van Emmerick
said: “We are still looking for the other three suspects.”
Occult expert Dr Kobus “Donker” Jonker said that until the police asked for his help, it would be difficult to say if this was a satanic ritual. - The Star