Murder accused 'has cop alibi'

2005-08-02 22:00

Cape Town - A man accused with two others of the murder of Durbanville NGK pastor Pietie Victor told the Cape High Court on Tuesday he was in police custody when Victor was killed.

Victor was shot dead about lunchtime on September 19 2003, when, carrying a firearm, he rushed to the assistance of his screaming neighbour Delores Theron, who had intruders in her home.

Andre Esau, Rashied Naidoo and Riedewaan Cornelius have pleaded not guilty before Judge Siraj Desai to charges of murder, house breaking with intent to commit aggravated robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Cornelius told the court he was in custody in Woodstock police station when Victor was killed.

That day he used his girlfriend's car, and Esau and Naidoo were in it with him at the Woodstock outlet of Shoprite.

He said he got out of the car at Shoprite, leaving Esau and Naidoo in the car with his cellphone.

Dominee had been shot

Cornelius claims Esau and Naidoo had driven off in the car without his consent.

In a written plea explanation he added: "At no stage did I give either of them permission to use the car to commit an offence, or to even use the car at all."

Inspector De Villiers Lourens of Durbanville police told the court he was on patrol when the dominee's wife telephoned him about a shooting, and said her husband had been hit.

Lourens found Victor's body, with his firearm still in his hand, outside the Theron home.

Lourens said a neighbour had managed to take down the registration number of a white car that had sped away from the scene after the shooting.

The case continues on Wednesday.

- SAPA