Missing cop 'laid rape charges'
2005-10-04 18:24
Pretoria - Missing constable Frances Rasuge laid and withdrew rape charges against murder accused William Nkuna three months before she disappeared, the Mmbatho Circuit Court heard on Tuesday.
Rasuge laid the rape charge at Themba police station on May 10 2004, said inspector Hendrik Masilo at Nkuna's murder trial in Ga-Rankuwa.
She subsequently filed a withdrawal on May 24 and the charges were withdrawn three days later.
Johannes Smit for the State said: "I have brought this matter forward to try and prove that a turbulent relationship existed between (Rasuge and Nkuna)."
"Whether she was raped or not is not for this court to decide."
Rasuge's sister, Nini, 22, earlier testified about going with her to a police training exercise in Pretoria to which Nkuna had driven her.
Unhappy there still was contact
Nini said she and her other sister, Wilhelmina, had gone with Rasuge on the drive to the city, as they feared for her safety after unspecified "incidents" which occurred between their sister and Nkuna earlier in 2004.
Nini said she was unhappy that Rasuge was still communicating with Nkuna while dating her new boyfriend, Abner Ramasodi.
On Monday, the court heard that blood stains found in Nkuna's Mazda Etude were a 99% match to her parents' DNA.
On Tuesday, Nkuna's defence was seeking to create doubt that the blood was the missing policewoman's by postulating other ways in which it could have ended up in the vehicle.
Rasuge was last seen alive on August 27 last year with Nkuna at a hair salon in Themba.
Although her body has not been found, authorities presume her dead.
Twenty witnesses, including family members, are expected to give evidence in the trial, scheduled to end on Friday.
- SAPA