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Dina trial drawing to a close
09/05/2006 22:22 - (SA)
Cape Town - The defence team in the Baby Jordan murder trial on Tuesday completed its cross-examination of the investigating officer, Captain Esmerald Bailey - the last of the state's witnesses.
Prosecutor Nicolette Bell is expected to close the State's case on Wednesday but at the end of proceedings on Tuesday said she might "first raise an issue" on Wednesday.
Bailey was subjected to intense questioning by John van der Berg for Dina Rodrigues, who, with four accomplices, stands accused of the murder in June last year of baby Jordan-Leigh Norton, in the infant's home.
The baby was stabbed after the four alleged accomplices allegedly gained entry to the home by posing as couriers delivering a parcel.
At Tuesday's proceedings, Van der Berg focused on Bailey's visit to Rodrigues's secret home, after her release on bail, to obtain extra fingerprints.
Rodrigues allowed the presence of an attorney
Bailey first told the court of Rodrigues's visit, with her then lover, Neil Wilson, to Bailey's office, prior to Rodrigues's arrest.
Bailey said she had arranged for an interview with Rodrigues and Wilson at her office on June 16 last year but Wilson's parents had accompanied them.
Bailey said she first spoke to all of them together, before interviewing Rodrigues alone and then Wilson.
She said Wilson's parents had accompanied the couple, as they had heard about the murder on the radio but wanted to know from Bailey about it.
Bailey said Rodrigues was allowed the presence of an attorney during the interview, and the attorney was present by the time the interview started.
Bailey told the court: "I was keen to interview Rodrigues privately but her attorney was there and he advised her not to say anything unless he was present."
Additional fingerprints
Asked if she felt Rodrigues had tried to protect anyone during the interview, Bailey replied: "No, she was more frightened than trying to protect anyone."
Bailey said the purpose of her visit to the secret residence where Rodrigues stayed after her release on bail was partly to view the place and partly to obtain additional fingerprints from her for the investigation.
She said her plan had been to take Rodrigues to the nearby Wynberg police station for the finger printing.
Van der Berg put it to her that such a trip would have violated her bail conditions, which prohibited Rodrigues from leaving the residence unless to attend court proceedings.
Bailey said she did not see her intended trip as such - as far as she was concerned, she was merely furthering the investigation, and considered herself entitled to do so.
The hearing continues on Wednesday.
- SAPA
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