|
Policeman stabbed 38 times
05/03/2008 18:23 - (SA)
Grahamstown - An eyewitness to the murder of an off-duty police inspector gave the Grahamstown High Court a chilling account on Wednesday of events leading up to his death.
On trial before Judge Jeremy Pickering are Bakhulule Ngwala-Ngwala, 20, and Siyabonga Jim, 19, both of Lingelihle, Cradock.
Both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Cradock-based Inspector Bazil John Quilie, 38, on the evening of August 10 last year.
Quilie died from multiple stab wounds to the face, chest and back, after being attacked as he left a tavern with his girlfriend.
State witness Malibongewe Ncaca told the court Ngwala-Ngwala and Jim, who he had known since childhood, had spoken with him minutes before Quilie was stabbed to death.
According to the State, the victim was stabbed 38 times with two homemade knives.
"They (the accused) asked me who Quilie was, and I told them I only knew he was a policeman.
"The two said they planned to rob him and I said that would be a stupid thing to do," Ncaca testified.
"As he walked past with his girlfriend, one of them grabbed him from behind, and the other, I think it was Ngwala-Ngwala was in front of the man making stabbing motions with his arm.
"I did not see a knife, but the man fell to the ground. He was covered in blood."
Ncaca said the woman had run away and was screaming for someone to help them.
"I stayed to watch because I wanted to see what would happen.
"I was afraid of both men, but particularly Ngwala-Ngwala, because he often used to boast about stabbing someone. He wears these bags of muti tied to his upper arms."
'Ethical reasons'
Ncaca said that when the two had finished attacking the man, they "threatened to kill me if I said anything to anyone".
Queenstown district surgeon Dr Ivan Koopowitz told the court: "Some of the knife wounds were inflicted with such force, they severed some of the man's ribs."
The attorney for the two men withdrew from the case on Wednesday, citing "ethical reasons and a conflict of interest".
The trial was provisionally postponed to April 22, in order for new lawyers to be appointed.
- SAPA
|
News
