|
Rattray man also up for rape
21/02/2007 07:43 - (SA)
Sharika Regchand
Durban - Cases of raping two young teenagers at gunpoint, and armed robbery are being investigated against one of the men who allegedly killed battlefields expert David Rattray.
This emerged on Tuesday at the Dundee magistrate's court during the bail application of Simphiwe Ndlovu, 25. Bail was denied.
Ndlovu is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, murder and attempted armed robbery in relation to Rattray's murder. He was allegedly part of a group of six men who participated in the attack.
The man who allegedly shot Rattray at his Fugitive's Drift Lodge on January
26 has been arrested and the court heard that there was a possibility that he might plead guilty and has made a statement implicating Ndlovu. Another accomplice who has pleaded guilty to the murder and has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment has also implicated Ndlovu.
Evidence against him
State prosecutor, Sandra Kloppers said that there was an independent witness implicating him. Investigating officer, Thinus du Plooy of the Organised Crime Unit said that a warrant of arrest was issued in February last year for Ndlovu's arrest on charges of raping two juveniles aged 13 and 16.
Investigations were also taking place linking Ndlovu to an armed robbery at the Rorke's Drift Museum. Ndlovu has not yet been arrested in these cases.
Ndlovu denied any involvement in Rattray's murder. He denied knowing the two men who have named him as their accomplice even though they all live in the same area.
He said that on the day of the murder he went hunting then "proposed love to a girl" and at 16:00 he went to a man to get cigarettes. Rattray was murdered after 17:00.
Ndlovu also said that upon his arrest he was assaulted.
The state called two community members who had known Rattray, to testify.
Tour guide Emmanuel Mkhize and Wilfred Mbatha both told of how Rattray contributed to the community financially. Mkhize said that Rattray assisted him in his studies and helped assist community projects, churches and schools.
"He was everything to me," he said. He added that the local community had benefited from Rattray's deeds and following his death community projects have ground to a halt.
Mkhize added that fewer tourists were coming to the area.
In refusing bail, magistrate Vivian Hlatshwayo said that the State had "beyond reasonable doubt" established that there was evidence against Ndlovu that he was involved in the murder. He said that Ndlovu was unemployed, had no fixed address and had not shown that exceptional circumstances existed which would permit his release on bail.
In his evidence, du Plooy said that the remaining three suspects would be arrested within the next few weeks.
- The Witness
|
News
