Hubby tells of wife, gardener

2003-01-29 08:50

Sonja Carstens

Pretoria - A Johannesburg businessman alleges his wife was "blind drunk" when he surprised her and their gardener, whom he claims was raping her.

The slender victim's memory is a blank about the incident that happened in May last year because she was under the influence of liquor, Prozac and sleeping tablets, it is claimed.

Isaak Monoyane (32) has denied in Pretoria North regional court that he raped the 33-year-old woman. He claims she invited him in for a drink.

Monanyane alleges the woman's ex-husband surprised them and accused him of carrying on with his wife. He denies having had sex with her.

The court heard the couple were estranged at the time of the incident because of the woman's drinking problem. They have since got divorced.

The man says he went home late in the afternoon after receiving a call from the domestic worker earlier in the day telling him there were "problems".

The man said: "As I walked down the passage I saw my wife and a man lying next to her on the bed, reflected in the main bedroom mirror. I rushed into the room."

Wife's speech was slurred

He claims Monanyane jumped up, saying: "It's me, master, it's Isaac.".

The man said Monanyane rushed at him in an attempt to escape through the bedroom door. The man pulled out his gun and locked Monanyane in the bathroom, asking a friend to call the police.

The man said Monannyane tried to escape through the bathroom window. He pushed the window shut from the outside.

He claims his wife was unable to walk and her speech was slurred. He could smell liquor on Monanyane as well.

The woman told the court she took strong anti-depressants. She remembers watching videos and drinking, but nothing more.

Prosecutor Tania Brits asked the woman if she had been in a condition to agree to sex. The woman denied it. She said she would not have consented if she had been sober.

- Beeld