'Wife fiddled with murder gun'
2005-01-25 21:56
Johannesburg - Marietjie du Preez, on trial for the murder of her husband, tampered with the magazine of the gun used to kill him in their East Rand home, Johannesburg High Court was told on Tuesday.
Du Preez, 31, was in the dock, along with Lovemore Ngcobo, 33, Phona Mohlohlo, 29 and Thabo Mdluli, 28.
They have all pleaded not guilty to murdering Anton du Preez, who was shot with his own gun during a fake burglary in June 2000.
Prosecutor Joe Davidowitz said the State would claim that Marietjie du Preez had swapped a magazine from the weapon used to kill him with one kept in a safe, before police arrived.
He said ballistics proved that the bullets had not come from the magazine that was in the gun.
Further evidence delivered on Tuesday was by captain Colin van Rooyen of the serious and violent crime police unit.
He said he arrived at a house in Bonaero Park and found a man's body in the lounge.
Neighbours comforted the wife and children, he said.
The three men in the dock with Du Preez are also charged with housebreaking, aggravated robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The trial continues.
- SAPA