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Moodley onlookers turned away

2005-08-04 10:24

Johannesburg - Court officials have been forced to turn people away from the Johannesburg High Court room where Donovan Moodley will be sentenced on Thursday for the murder of university student Leigh Matthews.

The courtroom was packed to capacity, largely by family and friends of Matthews and Moodley, and reporters.

Moodley was convicted after confessing last week to kidnapping Matthews, extorting money from her family and murdering her. He arrived at the court just after 07:00 in a police convoy.

His girlfriend Yeshika Singh is also in court, as is Moodley's anxious father, Stephen.

Matthews' parents Sharon and Rob were present with their daughter Karen, and are supported by the parents of murdered Randburg teenager Tanya Flowerday, whose killer was sentenced just last month.

Investigating officer Piet Byleveldt, at the court hours before sentencing, said he was tired. "...It's been a long tough year," he said.

He would calm down once he had heard the decision of Justice Joop Labuschagne.

Defence advocate Johan Pretorius said on Wednesday he did not want to speculate on the sentence but was expecting a "long term".

The defence has asked the judge not to impose a life sentence.

The prosecution however asked for a life sentence for murder, over 16 years for the kidnapping and a further 15 for extortion.

Sentencing was due to start at 10:00.

- SAPA

inside news24

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