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Dina accused 'offered R20 000'
14/02/2007 16:17 - (SA)
Cape Town - The teenager among the accused in the baby Jordan murder trial was offered R20 000 by his own advocate if he did not testify, it was claimed in the Cape High Court on Wednesday.
The youth, who may not be named, disclosed this at the end of his testimony, led by his new defence counsel Caryl Verrier.
Advocate Charles Simon, at the stage that the money was allegedly offered, represented the youth as well as his co-accused, taxi and shebeen owner Sipho Mfazwe, and Mongezi Bobotyane and Zanethemba Gwada.
The proposition was for the youth not to testify or, if he chose to, not to implicate Mfazwe in the murder.
'Offered R10 000 for killing'
The hearing, before Judge Basheer Waglay and two assessors, is a sequel to the death of six-month-old baby Jordan Leigh Norton.
The baby was stabbed in the neck after the youth and his three co-accused got access to the Norton home by posing as couriers delivering a parcel.
It is alleged accused Dina Rodrigues master-minded the murder by offering the foursome R10 000 and supplying them with the fake parcel and waybill to gain access to the house.
Rodrigues, who hoped to marry the baby's father at the time, wanted the baby out of the way to save the father the financial burden of maintenance payments.
Questioned at length
Simon, who had advised the four to remain silent and not to testify, withdrew as their counsel late last year.
It had become apparent to him that the youth was determined to testify, in accordance with his elderly mother's wishes.
The youth was questioned at length by advocate Paul Eia, who has temporarily replaced John van der Berg as Dina Rodrigues's counsel for technical reasons.
Eia had a mandate to cross-examine the teenager only.
Eia informed the court at the start of his questioning: "I have elected not to deal with this scandalous and unethical evidence."
He told the court there was "precious little" that could be believed in the youth's testimony, and that he would show that the teenager was "nothing, but a liar".
After Tuesday's proceedings, Verrier told the court she had no further evidence to lead from the youth, which opened him to cross-examination.
However, at the start of Wednesday's proceedings, she said there was crucial information she had overlooked, which the youth needed to present to the court - alluding to the Simon offer.
She said she was prepared to take the rap for her oversight, but the additional evidence was in the interests of justice.
Waglay said he was reluctant to give her a "second bite at the cherry", but he would allow her "a little leeway".
Questioned by Verrier, the youth said Simon had advised him to plead not guilty to the murder.
"I asked myself why must I plead not guilty?"
Asked why he had adhered to the advice to plead not guilty, he said: "Because he was my lawyer."
The youth said Simon advised him not to testify, so as not to implicate his co-accused in the murder, but his mother insisted that he should testify and tell the truth.
Was going to testify, anyway
The youth said he was anxious to please his mother, as she loved him and was concerned only about his interests.
The youth said his plan had been to take the R20 000 offered by Simon, but to then testify nevertheless.
As it turned out, he never received the money at all.
The hearing continues on Thursday.
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