Widow tells of frantic calls

2008-04-16 17:40

Cape Town - The widow of a slain traffic officer told the Cape High Court on Wednesday of her frantic state after she discovered her husband had not returned home.

Melanie Langeveldt testified before acting Judge Richard Brusser, and assessors Jaco van Reenen and M A Hofman de Kock, at the trial of five men accused of murdering her husband in the early hours of January 28 2006.

In the dock are Arnold Presence, Llewellyn March, Craig Daniels, Yoland Roode and Bradley van Reenen.

According to a Summary of Facts handed to the court by prosecutor Willem Tarental, Denver Langeveldt was attacked when he confronted the five on his way home from an office function.

His widow told the court she spoke to her husband about 20:00 that Friday night, when he confirmed that he arrived safely at the function.

Langeveldt promised to be home by 02:00 at the latest and, when she awoke at 04:00 and he had not returned, she immediately phoned him.

She said he answered her call, but sounded very anxious.

He told her he was nearly home, and would arrive in a few minutes, but when she asked him exactly where he was, his cellphone was switched off.

She tried several times after that to reach him, but his cellphone remained off.

She told the court she waited outside at the driveway gate for him - but he did not arrive.

Tarental said an argument ensued after Langeveldt confronted the five and they attacked him.

Langeveldt was stabbed and collapsed on the ground where the five allegedly kicked him before bundling him into the boot of his own car.

Langeveldt was taken to an open field, where he was removed from the boot and kicked and stabbed again, and was left to die.

His body was found in the field that Saturday.

The men have all pleaded not guilty to four charges - attempted murder, relating to the first stabbing, kidnapping, aggravated armed robbery and murder.

The case was postponed to Thursday.

- SAPA