'I did not kill Kebble'

2009-11-03 14:44

Johannesburg - Sole-accused in the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble, Glenn Agliotti, has said he will plead not guilty to the crime.

On Tuesday, the convicted drug trafficker was testifying as a State witness in the corruption trial of his once-friend and former police head Jackie Selebi in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

Asked by prosecutor Gerrie Nel what he was going to plead in the Kebble murder trial, Agliotti replied "not guilty".

Kebble was shot dead in his car in Melrose, Johannesburg, on the night of September 27, 2005.

Agliotti was arrested for the murder in November 2006 and was set to go on trial next year.

On Tuesday, Agliotti confirmed it was his "understanding" he would be the only accused in the case.

Identified body

Earlier, Agliotti testified that Selebi asked him for a payment the day after Kebble was shot dead.

The court heard that Agliotti was on his way to the morgue to identify Kebble's body when he received a call from Selebi.

"The day after Kebble died, I had to go to the mortuary to identify the body… In the car driving to the morgue I received a call from the accused and I had a conversation with him whereby he requested a sum of money."

Previously during testimony in the Selebi case, Agliotti has maintained that he is innocent of the murder while the real killers walk free.
"I had no role to play in it," Agliotti says in a video recording played in court of a conversation he had with National Intelligence Agency officials.

In the recording he also claims the killing was an assisted suicide which was preceded by "dry runs" or rehearsals.

"It was an assisted suicide. Brett got into such financial trouble, he could not see the way out. He then planned it with [Clinton] Nassif and they planned it, they prayed about it, they had dry runs."

Agliotti alleges Kebble's former head of security Nassif framed him after making a deal with the Scorpions. Nassif received indemnity for charges including murder after agreeing to be a State witness against Selebi.

How can the murderers walk free?

Agliotti alleges Nassif and two hit men, referred to as "Smith" and "Schultz", were actually responsible for the crime.

Later in the video, Agliotti asked, "How can the murderers all walk free?... I just feel where's the justice?"

Altercations continued throughout Tuesday between the State and defence, with defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers objecting regularly to Nel's line of questioning during re-examination.

He accused Nel of trying to cross-examine Agliotti or of introducing new evidence.

In terms of a deal Agliotti made with the State in the Selebi case, he would receive indemnity from prosecution on various charges if he testified "frankly and honestly".

Selebi is facing a charge of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with at least R1.2m he allegedly received from Agliotti and others in return for favours.

- SAPA