A stepson, who has been convicted along with a friend he recruited to murder his adoptive father, were due for sentencing in the Durban High Court this week, but the matter did not go the distance.
The stepson, 25, gave an emotionally charged account of how he suffered in silence with the trauma of being sexually abused by the man who adopted him, Willem Cordier.
He broke down a few times on Thursday while he was being led by Maggie Pillay, his attorney.
Judge Mfuniselwa Elijah Nkosi adjourned the matter after the man’s testimony and ordered that he be subjected to a psychological evaluation before sentencing could be finalised.
The stepson provided Mlungisi Ndlovu, 26, with the knife that was used to stab Cordier multiple times at the Berea flat that he shared with his stepson.
Ndlovu entered the flat and committed the March 15, 2019 murder with keys the stepson gave him.
The stepson was in his bedroom when he heard his father’s screams for help and raised the alarm via WhatsApp voice sent to his neighbours.
A month earlier (February 9), Ndlovu was invited to Dr Euvette Taylor’s flat at the DUT’s student residence complex near the Steve Biko campus.
Taylor, 30, was a DUT employee.
Taylor’s blood-stained body was found in his flat the next morning.
Ndlovu was accused of inflicting the blunt force trauma and strangulation that ended Taylor’s life.
He then drove away with Taylor’s VW Amarok and took some of the deceased’s possessions, including flat-screen TVs and a laptop.
Ndlovu went to the stepson’s flat to help him dispense with Taylor’s possessions.
The stepson drove the vehicle to a friend in L-Section uMlazi, near where his own family lived, and sold the vehicle and other items.
They both faced the same charges. Count one was robbery with aggravating circumstances and two counts of murder (Taylor and Cordier).
The State was led by advocates Annelize Harrison and Yoliswa Nyakata.
Judge Nkosi convicted Ndlovu on all three counts and said that the State provided sufficient evidence.
The stepson was convicted on an ordinary robbery charge and for the murder of Cordier, but acquitted on the charge related to Taylor’s death.
On Thursday, Nkosi told the accused they faced the possibility of life imprisonment.
“You have the opportunity to consult with your counsel and try and impress upon the court to deviate from life sentences.
“If you decide to lead evidence, the downside is, if you appeal, it may affect your chances of getting a life sentence reduced.
Ndlovu’s attorney, Zeera Fareed, said in mitigation that her client was 23 when he committed the crimes, a father of a young child, was under the influence of zenax tablets when he murdered Taylor, and was a slow learner.
Nkosi was unconvinced about the special circumstances raised.
The stepson testified that his grandmother worked as a domestic worker for a Durban North family and lived in a cottage on-site.
It was there that she met Cordier, who asked about taking guardianship of the stepson, whose parents were separated.
He was 14 at the time.
Consent was given for Cordier’s informal adoption of the youngster and paid for his schooling.
“My relationship with dad (Cordier) started off well, but in 2014 things got worse. I couldn’t understand what was happening.
“I begin to experience sexual acts with him. I was too shy to talk to anyone about it.”
The stepson told the court how he was forced to sleep with his father and videos of such acts were made.
He struggled to continue with his testimony.
Thandeka Mofokeng, a qualified social worker, who was seated in court, was asked to consult with him and establish whether he could continue.
After the recess, Mofokeng told the court he was highly traumatised by the years of abuse but he would continue.
The stepson said he tried to confide in his grandmother but couldn’t.
“There was nobody I could trust.
“He (Cordier) would not allow me to leave even when finished school.
“He would always create a story for my family by saying I was doing mischief.”
The stepson said Cordier took care of all his financial needs, paid for his tertiary studies and also bought him cars twice in the past.
He studied fine arts, changed to catering, which Cordier encouraged, then switched to performing arts and eventually landed a role with a drama casting company.
The stepson said he attempted suicide on four occasions.
The first attempt when he was 16.
He found pictures and videos at home of his dad having sexual intercourse with other men and they were published on the internet.
“Those men would come to our house and the video clips would be shot during vacations at places like hotels and game reserves.
“I also went with them.”
As he described some of the lewd acts his dad and the other men had him perform, he broke down yet again.
He eventually composed himself and told the court: “I loved him (Cordier).
“He was my dad.”
SUNDAY TRIBUNE