'Son of God' behind murders

2008-10-15 22:30

Pinetown - A Durban man described by his co-accused as the "Son of God" had manipulated the Lotter siblings and planned their parents' murders, the Pinetown Regional Court heard on Wednesday.

Investigating officer Constable Kubendran Naidoo was outlining Mathew Naidoo's confession as well as those given by the siblings.

The confessions were being highlighted at Naidoo's bail application where he stood in the dock with his girlfriend Nicolette Lotter and her brother Hardus.

They are accused of killing Johannes and Magdalena Lotter at their Westville home in July.

"In a nutshell, he [Naidoo] said he manipulated accused one and two [Hardus and Nicolette] and he planned the murder and convinced accused one and two to kill their parents," the officer told the court.

"In his confession, he makes mention of the day of the murder, the event leading up to the murders, his involvement, where he was during the murder, and his role in the murders."

The court heard that Hardus, in his confession, spoke of the planning of the murders, the day of the murder, where equipment used in the murders was purchased and his role in the crime itself.

Two prior murder attempts

Nicolette in her confession spoke of how she had met Naidoo and "the two prior attempts on killing her father".

The officer said she had also written about the purchasing of items used in the murder, the staging of the crime scene and her role in the crime.

Representing Mathew, defence attorney Rajendra Nathalal argued that the State did not have a good case as the police relied solely on the three confessions.

In response, the officer said the State had a strong case despite the fact that there were no eyewitness statements.

He said police were also relying on crucial evidence that had been pointed out by the applicant in dustbins at two intersections in Westville.

Police found syringes, three pairs of gloves, cable ties, insulation tape, a sock and the bloodied clothing belonging to the siblings.

The officer said the police were still awaiting the results of forensic tests.

The hearing continues.

- SAPA