Dominee blamed for shoot-out

2005-08-31 21:08

Cape Town - The Cape High Court heard on Thursday about a wild shoot-out that claimed the life of retired Durbanville Dutch Reformed Church dominee, Pietie Victor, two years ago.

André Esau, one of three men accused of the pastor's murder, told Judge Siraj Desai that Victor started the shoot-out, and that co-accused Rashied Naidoo retaliated by firing five shots at the retired dominee.

Esau said the third shot hit Victor, who fell to the ground dead.

The shooting, in September 2003, happened after Esau, Naidoo and Riedewaan Cornelius had robbed Victor's neighbours, Pieter and Delores Theron, of the safe in their home.

It is alleged the three men burst into the Theron home about 11:00 on September 19, through the unlocked kitchen door.

It is claimed they took Theron's wife by surprise in the kitchen, while her husband was at work, and tied her up at gunpoint before finding and carrying a safe out the house.

Retired dominee shouted a warning

Esau told the court Theron arrived home for lunch as the men were leaving the house.

Esau said Victor at that stage shouted to Theron, before he entered the house, that there were "big problems".

As they made their escape, Victor started shooting wildly at them, and Naidoo returned fire.

Esau told the court he saw Victor fall to the ground, and that he got out of the getaway car to have a closer look at Victor before the three sped off.

Esau said he and Naidoo had earlier accompanied Cornelius to Plattekloof, in search of an unlocked house to rob.

They had been unable to find a suitable house in Plattekloof, and had then gone to Durbanville, where they had chosen the Theron home.

Esau told the court he had been threatened with death by the prison gang, the 26s, if he told the police the truth.

He had also been warned by Naidoo to take all the blame himself, and not to involve Naidoo.

Naidoo also had told him that he could make Esau's life in prison uncomfortable if Esau involved him in the Victor murder.

Esau also described to the court the high-speed police chase after the police spotted Cornelius's car soon after the robbery and murder.

Threw guns, loot out of the car

As they sped through a number of red traffic lights on the Cape Flats, with the police in hot pursuit, Naidoo and Cornelius, seated in front, had thrown firearms and items stolen from the Therons, such as jewellery, out of the car.

When Cornelius's car was eventually forced to a halt, Esau fled into a nearby house and hid under a bed, where police found him.

Esau complained that police had assaulted him after finding him under the bed, although he had not resisted arrest.

The hearing continues on Thursday.

- SAPA