'I cut off his private parts'

2007-02-22 12:08

Pretoria - A former law student on Wednesday told Pretoria High Court how he bludgeoned his friend with a dumbbell before slicing off his private parts because of his unwelcome sexual advances.

Frank Lebogang Mahlakoana, 24, said he found the death of his friend, William Henry Thomas, so shocking and horrifying that he could not look at photos of the murder scene because it frightened him.

Mahlakoana has pleaded not guilty to murdering and robbing Thomas and trying to steal the man's car on May 8 2005.

Police discovered Thomas in a pool of blood in his lounge and his private parts tucked away under a dressing table in his bedroom after Thomas's neighbours alerted the police and prevented Mahlakoana from escaping.

Mahlakoana testified that he and Thomas were good friends and that he had on occasion even stayed with Thomas, who had helped him find a job.

'Declared his love'

He told the court Thomas had invited him for a visit, but then "out of the blue" declared his love and tried to put his hand down Mahlakoana's pants.

Mahlakoana said: "I pushed him away, so he stood up, drank a glass of alcohol and went to his bedroom.

"He came back and stood in front of me. He had undressed himself. When I asked what he was doing, he told me not to worry, I would see.

"He embraced me and tried to kiss me. I pushed him away and we started to struggle and he fell. I think it made him angry."

Mahlakoana said he then tried to run, but Thomas stopped him.

"I said leave me alone, I want to go, but he said I would not get away that easily. I ran, trying to find an exit, but he followed me with a knife in his hand.

'Knife fell'

"I saw a dumbbell against the wall and hit him with it. He fell and the knife dropped out of his hand.

"I ran to get a key, but when I returned he grabbed me and threw me on to the couch.

"He wanted to fall on me, but I ducked, so that he landed on the couch. Then I took the knife and cut through his private parts.

"I thought he would fall, but he stood up again and splattered me with blood.

"He did not want me to get the keys and grabbed me again, so I took the dumbbell again and hit him twice on the head."

'Tied him to a door'

He said Thomas managed to keep the door closed despite his injuries, but he later managed to tie Thomas to a door.

His first thought was to phone his sister, but he was so anxious that he burst into tears.

She told him to stay there and that she was on her way, so he took a shower and changed his clothes. Police arrested him at the house.

Asked why he had hidden Thomas' private parts, he said he was so scared that he just "threw around" the private parts because he did not know what to tell police.

- SAPA