Crossbow: Suspect 'interfered'

2003-09-30 18:20

Johannesburg - The Roodepoort Regional Court heard on Tuesday that murder accused Frank Peter Zanner, who allegedly shot his wife with a crossbow, had tried to interfere with State witnesses and hinder the investigation against him.

Superintendent Piet Byleveld, strongly opposing bail for the alleged murderer, told the court that six potential witnesses were approached by Zanner before his arrest on August 28.

Others were traced by the mother of the accused or contacted by private investigators engaged by the Zanner family, Byleveld said.

He said one witness has already left South Africa for the time being. Another murder and attempted murder probe against Zanner was under way. But the second investigation was related to murder at work.

Zanner is accused of killing his wife Sibille Zanner on September 25, 2002, with the hope of getting about a million rand from insurance policies and other related benefits.

Sibille Zanner died after an arrow lodged in her throat. Byleveld said he was not prepared to divulge whether the arrow was fired from a bow or pistol-type weapon.

At the time of Sibille Zanner's death, her husband stood to inherit R450 000 from an insurance policy on her life and R600 000 from pension and other related benefits.

However, it emerged in the courtroom that the murder weapon was not found yet, but Byleveld said he has two witnesses who testified that Zanner bought a crossbow and arrows during the early 1990s.

The arrow used in the murder was being kept at the police forensic laboratory in Pretoria.

Byleveld told the court that the second investigation against Zanner was related to his work, and not the murder of his wife.

Byleveld said he had been to the Zanner family factory to consult with certain witnesses and had experienced problems getting access to the people.

"If I had to investigate all serious crimes under such circumstances I might as well close all my murder files," said Byleveld.

He said he feared his investigation would be in danger if Zanner was granted bail.

Byleveld spent the day under cross-examination by defence counsel Danie Dorfling, which prompted prosecutor Elivera du Plooy to complain that the defence was on a fishing expedition to discover what the State knew about the murder.

The defence brought an application for the court to order Byleveld to answer all questions fully instead of claiming confidentiality because the investigation was incomplete. The application continues on Thursday.

- SAPA