Stacha's alleged killer expected to plead guilty

‘Killer’ Randy Tango is expected to plead guilty. Picture: Supplied

‘Killer’ Randy Tango is expected to plead guilty. Picture: Supplied

Published Nov 20, 2017

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Cape Town - Alleged child killer Randy Tango has confirmed he will be entering a plea agreement for the murder of his 11-year-old neighbour Stacha Arends.

Tango stepped into the dock wearing a red peak cap and again tried to hide from the media at the Western Cape High Court on Friday.

He is facing charges of kidnapping, rape and murder.

Inside a packed courtroom, Judge Robert Henney told Tango his plea agreement would be heard on 4 December.

It’s believed he will be pleading guilty to raping and killing Stacha, but details are still being finalised.

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Previously, a source close to the investigation revealed Tango had a sick obsession with Stacha, and police sources also said he had confessed to killing the child.

According to the source, Tango “often watched Stacha, and had secretly been preying on her without her family’s knowledge”.

On Friday, Stacha’s mother Sandy Markgraff and the child’s stepfather, Shannon Markgraff, held each other in the public gallery during court proceedings.

        Stacha Arends

  Picture: Supplied

Judge Henney asked Tango whether he understood the fact that he had entered into a plea agreement, and he nodded.

Outside court, Stacha’s uncle, Henry Arends, said they were satisfied with the contents of the agreement, which will be revealed next month.

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“We are very happy with the case, how it has been handled by the State prosecutor and the detective,” Henry said.

“We are happy with the contents of the agreement and a few things still need to be discussed.”

Tango was released on parole in October last year after serving time for car theft.

His mother also previously revealed that he had been charged with statutory rape of a 16-year-old girl but that the case was withdrawn.

Stacha disappeared on 27 March while watching movies at a friend’s home, close to her house in Matroosberg Crescent, Tafelsig.

The next day, Stacha’s naked and battered body was found dumped on a soccer field at Swartklip Road, Tafelsig.

In April, barely a month after Stacha was murdered, Tango’s parents put their house at 12 Matroosberg Crescent on the market for R320 000.

It’s believed Stacha was raped and killed at this house before her body was dumped, after police removed bloody clothing from the premises shortly after her body was found.

Daily Voice

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