Leigh: Moodley only suspect
2005-07-19 12:14
Johannesburg - Donovan Moodley, the alleged kidnapper and killer of student Leigh Matthews, will be the only accused in the case in the Johannesburg High Court, police said on Tuesday.
"I spoke to Superintendent Piet Byleveld an hour ago and he told me he has only one suspect," said spokesperson Superintendent Chris Wilken, ahead of the trial kicking off on Monday next week.
"As far as the police are concerned no further arrests are expected."
This follows newspaper reports that the prosecution may add new charges, witnesses or even people in the dock.
Wilken said the trial was set down for six to eight weeks.
"There are no reasons for postponements," he said.
Wilken said that at least five policemen would help secure the courtroom, as the trial promised to be attract much interest.
"This is the biggest publicity ever about a single murder," he said.
Moodley's lawyer, Jonathan Minnie, and the prosecution have confirmed that no witnesses will be called for Moodley's defence and that he will not take the stand.
The preacher's son has been waiting for 10 months behind bars to face charges of kidnapping, extortion, robbery and murder.
Matthews, 21, was snatched from Bond South Africa university in Sandton, on July 9 last year.
On the same night, during the ransom drop-off, Leigh's father Rob came within metres of his daughter's alleged killer when he dropped an envelope with R50 000 out of his car window.
Initially the kidnapper demanded R300 000, but agreed to pick up an instalment on the dark N1 highway near the Grasmere tollgate south of the city.
21-year-old student
The kidnapper did not keep his side of the bargain. Instead of returning the blonde 21-year-old student to her panicking parents, he drove Leigh to a dark field in Walkerville Manor, ordered her to strip naked and shot her in the back of her head.
Tragically, it was not until July 21 that a grass cutter would discover her body lying metres from a Walkerville road.
A long 12 days after the kidnapping hope turned to horror, and a massive police manhunt was launched.
Political pressure mounted, with top politicians, including President Thabo Mbeki and former president Nelson Mandela, calling for an arrest.
The hunt for Matthew's killer was described as the biggest police manhunt in the country's history.
While the hunt was still on, Moodley was busy getting engaged on a luxury yacht off the coast of Durban.
On August 8, Moodley proposed to his high school sweetheart Yeshika Singh during a romantic cruise.
Investigating officer Superintendent Piet Byleveld finally made an arrest on October 4.
Moodley, 24, at the time, made brief appearances in the Randburg magistrate's court but was never asked to plead. He also never applied for bail.
- SAPA