Battle to get Charlize's story

2007-12-09 23:40

Carla Lewis

Johannesburg - Chris Karsten, the author of Deadly Women - when passion turns to blood, had to fight for four months to get his hands on the police file containing Charlize Theron's statement on the death of her father, Charles.

Karsten is the first to reveal Charlize's statement to police. The Oscar winner was 15 when her mother, Gerda, shot dead her father.

It also sheds new light on the stormy relationship between Gerda and her husband, and his adulation of Charlize, his little "kieriekoppie" (tough one).

No one was tried for Charles's death because the magistrate could not reach a verdict.

Karsten said: "It was quite a struggle to get my hands on the file.

"I even involved the detectives in National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi's unit.

"They couldn't help and, in the end, with the help of the police at George, I used the Access to Information Act to get the file."

No comment from Charlize or mom

Karsten said he had decided to include the Therons' story in his book because it was well-known, but the true story had never emerged.

The book also includes comments from Charlize's father's side of the family.

"It was quite difficult to get them to open up to me because so many negative things had been said about Charles."

Charles's sister, Elsa Malan, was hesitant at first, but after Karsten had explained to her what the book was about, she agreed to speak to him.

Charlize and her mother did not respond to Karsten's request for comment.

Karsten said the international media had not yet responded to his book, "But, the book is fresh on the shelves, so maybe it's a bit early to expect any reaction."

Dangerous Women is the third in a crime series by Karsten.

- Beeld