Ds Pietie: Suspect confesses
2003-10-14 21:58
Cape Town - One of the three suspects in the murder of Durbanville Dutch Reformed Church pastor Pietie Victor may turn against his accomplices as a State witness.
This was the shock in store for suspect Rashied Naidoo, 24, when he launched a bail application in the Bellville magistrate's court on Tuesday.
He was under cross-examination by prosecutor Stefan Venter who told him that suspect Andre Esau had made a confession that implicated Naidoo as the gunman in the alleged murder.
On the strength of the confession, the State was considering using Esau as a prosecution witness, Venter said.
Victor was shot dead on September 19 when he rushed to help his neighbour, Delores Theron, during a robbery at her home.
The same day, police arrested Esau, 31, and Naidoo, and five days later the third suspect, Riedewaan Cornelius, 26.
Led by defence attorney Gregory Derris, Naidoo admitted he had another murder and robbery case pending, and claimed to have been acquitted in the Cape High Court in a third murder and robbery case.
Warned by magistrate Michelle Adams that he was not obliged to answer any incriminating questions, Naidoo chose not to answer most of the questions put to him in cross-examination, whether they were incriminating or not.
He alleged the investigating officer had informed the media about his arrest, and had blocked his access to family and a lawyer, as part of a vendetta against Naidoo.
He also alleged that the investigating officer and a colleague had assaulted him, and said he wished to lay an assault charge against them.
Several times, Derris objected to Venter's line of questioning, and at one stage, as Naidoo tried to answer a question despite Derris' objection to it, Derris told Naidoo to "shut up".
The magistrate sternly cautioned Derris to treat his client with respect.
The hearing continues on October 21.
- SAPA