Moodley 'had to kill' Leigh

2005-07-25 20:42

Johannesburg - Donovan Moodley, who was found guilty in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday of murdering student Leigh Matthews, says he was scared of getting caught and saw no option but to kill her.

Moodley, in a surprise move, admitted kidnapping and killing Leigh as well as extorting money from her parents.

In his statement, read by advocate Johan Pretorius and signed by Moodley in court, he gave a detailed account of how he planned and executed the kidnapping and murder.

His statement said: "I didn't know her. My impression of the students in Bond University (from where she was kidnapped) was that they all came from wealthy families."

He confirmed that after toying with the idea, he approached her in the parking lot.

"Under the pretence of asking for a lift I got into her car and after that I held her at gunpoint. I eventually tied her up and put her into my vehicle."

He spent the majority of July 9 (the day Leigh was kidnapped) in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg, and had agreed to a R50 000 drop-off after Leigh told him "my parents are not that wealthy".

'No other way out'

After the drop-off, Moodley said: "I drove around for a while and thought about how to release her.

"I did not know what to do, I could see no other way out but to kill her.

"I was scared there were road blocks. I didn't want to get caught.

"We sat for a few minutes after which I told her to get out of the vehicle.

"I told her to get undressed and place all her things in my vehicle. After I untied her she duly complied.

"Thereafter I handed her a blanket to cover herself. In the process of covering herself with the blanket she turned her back towards me.

"It was then that I shot her in the back of her head at point blank range.

"After I shot her in the head I pulled her into the bushes or long grass where I fired a further three shots at her to ensure that she was dead".

In another revelation he said he retrieved Leigh's ring from a pile of burnt clothes with the intention of sending it in an envelope to her parents, Rob and Sharon Matthews.

"Before I could write the letter I was arrested." Matthews body was found on July 21 by a grass cutter.

Left court crying

After being found guilty, Moodley, leaving the court in his shackles, began to cry.

He paused to hold hands with his father, who had sat through the verdict with his eyes closed, and began sobbing.

Moodley stumbled down the stairs as he visibly lost all his strength and when approached by the media, a woman next to his weeping father said: "We won't be commenting."

His fiancee was also in tears.

Leigh's mom 'under control'

After the court was adjourned, Leigh's mother Sharon assured her friends and family: "I am under control, I am fine."

Her father Rob said they would speak more on Tuesday, but "needed some time".

Giselle Clemson, Leigh's best friend, held their daughter Karen's hand as she too sobbed.

It was Giselle's birthday on Monday, but she said there was no other way she would want to spend it this year.

Original investigating officer Gabriel Hall also attended the proceedings and said he was relieved at the outcome.

Moodley returns to court on Tuesday for argument in mitigation of sentencing.

- SAPA