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Zuma's first statement 'bland'
28/04/2006 10:46 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Jacob Zuma made a "bland" statement to police investigating the rape charge against him so that he could later alter his defence, Johannesburg High Court heard on Friday.
Prosecutor Charin de Beer said he left out any reference to sex, preferring to say he and the complainant "enjoyed each other's company privately", on purpose.
"He was playing for more time by wording the statement as he did," said De Beer, who is summarising the State's case against the former deputy president.
He is alleged to have raped a 31-year-old HIV-positive woman, who considers herself a family friend, at his Johannesburg home on November 2 last year. He claims it was consensual sex.
"He still hoped to persuade the complainant to withdraw the charge and wanted to find out what evidence the police had against him," De Beer said.
She said he could not hide behind the explanation that the wording was on the instruction of his attorney Michael Hulley.
Judge asked to reject evidence
"He is an intelligent man..." He held some of the most-senior posts in the country, De Beer said. He cannot now hide behind his attorney, she continued.
De Beer also asked Judge Willem van der Merwe to reject the testimony of two men, Durban estate agent Thulani Mpontshane and Lungisa Henry Manzi, who now heads the eThekwini metro emergency services.
Mpontshane claimed to have been the complainant's lover when she was younger. Manzi claims that she undressed and tried to get into his bath.
De Beer said the two men, who were flatmates at the time, contradicted each other and the evidence should be rejected.
The trial continues.
- SAPA
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