The high-profile trial involving the murder trial of a Westville couple took a dramatic turn on Monday afternoon when the reputed mastermind, Mathew Naidoo, changed his plea to guilty.
This followed a torrid session and cross examination by Roland Parsotham, the lawyer acting for co-accused Hardus Lotter, son of the murdered husband and wife.
During a lengthy adjournment Naidoo, 25, consulted an independent lawyer not associated with the murder trial.
When proceedings resumed, he took the stand to say that he was now pleading guilty.
“I am involved in this crime... I want to completely confess to this crime,” he said.
Naidoo will now be kept in the Westville Correctional Services facility.
He asked the Durban High Court if he could be isolated from the other prisoners as the case had a high profile. -
Sapa