Matthew Naidoo put the Lotter siblings under a powerful spell so they would kill their parents, the Durban High Court heard on Wednesday.
“He used witchcraft on us. How can two people believe that they are meant to kill their parents?” asked Nicolette Lotter, 29.
She, her brother Hardus Lotter, 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 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 that when she met Naidoo she was depressed and questioning God as she was going through torment and hurt.
“I wondered if God was putting me through a test or if he was punishing me,” she said.
Nicolette said she believed that Naidoo was the son of God because God spoke to people in different ways.
“I thought he was a blessing. I had prayed for someone to come into my life and help me.”
She told the court Naidoo had been supportive and had spiritually helped her.
“I felt indebted to him, because he'd help me sort out my life.”
Under cross examination, State advocate Rea Mina asked Nicolette why she had not told anyone that Naidoo was the son of God.
“I wasn't allowed to tell anyone that he was the son of God. He told me if I told anyone a demon would be released and cause mass destruction on earth,” she said.
Mina asked Nicolette how she could believe Naidoo was the son of God when he was physically abusive, dyslexic and used bad language when speaking to her.
“I saw myself deserving of punishment because I didn't listen to him when he gave me instructions,” she said.
Nicolette told the court that Naidoo explained to her that he went through tribulations just like Jesus.
She testified that she did not think they would go to jail because it was all God's will.
“I believed God would take care of everything.”
Mina asked Nicolette why she had not believed her mother when she called Naidoo a dark horse.
“I couldn't believe my mom because Naidoo showed me revelations that she was evil. She was opposed to him doing God's work. He said our parents did not love us, they looked at us as failures. They didn't want us to be happy and successful,” Nicolette said.
She told the court that Naidoo had programmed her psychologically so that he could manipulate her into doing what he wanted.
The trial continues on Thursday. - Sapa