Forensics sinking Moodley

2005-07-27 21:17

Johannesburg - A tiny spider and her funnel-shaped web could prove the State's theory that killer Donovan Moodley froze Leigh Matthews' body for 12 days after murdering her, and that he then staged the murder scene.

Professor Ansie Dippenaar told Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday that a female spider was discovered between the thighs of Leigh Matthews' body.

But the web spun by the spider was in an early stage, meaning the body had been placed on the spot just a few hours earlier.

The spider was found by sergeant André Massyn, who also testified on Wednesday, when the body was discovered on July 21 last year.

Massyn sent it off to Dr Mervyn Mansell to be examined. He forwarded it to Dippenaar, the country's leading spider expert.

Dippenaar testified that the spider was identified as a funnel-web spider, scientifically known as Aglena, from the Agelenidae family.

Body 'was placed on web'

"This spider needs to make a web to survive," she said.

"It is not a wandering spider, and after building a web can use it for months."

Dippenaar explained that the Aglena was common to tall grass, and spun horizontal sheet-webs of up to 20cm in diameter. The spider then hid, and waited for insects to become ensnared.

"In my opinion the body was placed on top of (an existing) web," she said.

"In self-defence the spider moved from the destroyed web (to the thighs). But it had not settled to start a new one."

Dippenaar studied the spider and photographs of the crime scene in her laboratory, and concluded that the body was placed at the scene a few hours before being discovered.

"These spiders build extensive webs, but the web reflected in the photographs was in the early stages of construction, probably not more than a few hours."

Testimony by entomologist Mervyn Mansell concurred with Dippenaar's findings, but considered insects rather than arachnids.

Mansell said the absence of maggots and fly eggs on the body suggested it had not been there for longer than 24 hours.

Mansell was asked whether the body could have been lying at the Walkerville spot from the time of the murder.

Flies attracted to dead bodies

"No. This is highly unlikely. It is impossible," he replied.

Mansell explained to the court that in South Africa flies generally found a dead body within hours and laid eggs. The eggs hatched into maggots after a mere 12-14 hours.

During cross-examination, Mansell conceded that the cold weather in Walkerville would have resulted in the flies taking longer to locate the body.

"But the temperature during the days was more than 15°C, and flies were certainly active during these temperatures," he said.

- SAPA