Moodley 'hiding things'

2005-07-29 12:27

Johannesburg - Donovan Moodley, the man who confessed to kidnapping and murdering student Leigh Matthews, will be told by a Johannesburg High Court judge next week how long he will be removed from society.

Judge Joop Labuschagne on Friday postponed the case to Thursday next week.

Prosecutor Zaais van Zyl argued Moodley should be given a life sentence for the murder - and that he should serve more than 25 years. On charges of kidnapping, Moodley should serve 16 years and 15 years for extortion, Van Zyl said.

Counsel for Moodley, Johan Pretorius, earlier told the court the killer was ashamed of his deeds.

"He has shown sincere remorse. He requested his defence not to negotiate a plea bargain. He is ashamed of what he did."

Pretorius said Moodley had pleaded guilty and had never tried to detract from the seriousness of the crime.

He deserved a lengthy jail sentence - but not life imprisonment.

Van Zyl charged Moodley had not "played open cards" with the court.

"Any allegation of remorse stands to be questioned."

Van Zyl said Moodley only pleaded guilty because there was "an avalanche of evidence against him".

"Moodley had 77 days to repent and hand himself over to police. This he never did. He simply went on with his life."

Earlier in the week, Moodley confessed to kidnapping and murdering Sandton student Matthews and extorting R50 000 from her family. He was convicted on all counts by Judge Labuschagne.

The State has been calling witnesses to prove that Moodley had not confessed to everything, and that he had frozen Matthews' body for 12 days before dumping her body in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg.

- SAPA