Accused tells of 'monster' pal
2005-09-29 20:51
Johannesburg - A Kameeldrif man, accused of killing a nurse and severely assaulting her friend, told Pretoria High Court on Thursday it was God's will that his co-accused had not also hurt him.
Johan Johnston, 22, said that while his co-accused, Willie Straus, 23, was attacking Laetitia Brown, a nurse at Pretoria Academic Hospital, and Deon Engelbrecht, he had prayed.
"I closed my eyes at one stage and I asked my God to help me," said Johnston.
He told the court that Strauss became a "monster" during the attack.
Johnston said he was terrified of Strauss, whom he had never known to be so violent.
The two met the Brown and Engelbrecht on March 13 2003 at a nightclub in Wonderboom, Pretoria.
Brown agreed to later give them - and Engelbrecht - a lift home.
Became violent about cocaine
Strauss and Engelbrecht agreed to use cocaine and they stopped near Kameeldrif Primary School to use the drug.
Strauss, however, became violent when it emerged that Engelbrecht did not have cocaine. He had expected Strauss "to make the lines".
Strauss admitted he repeatedly hit Brown and Engelbrecht, but he said he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and could not be held accountable for his actions.
Johnston claimed he was an innocent bystander who was incapable of moving because he was terrified of Strauss.
Strauss earlier testified that Johnston took over the beatings when both Brown and Engelbrecht were lying on the ground.
Johnston, who was in tears for the most part of his evidence, described the death noises Brown made while Strauss was attacking her.
Engelbrecht was found the next day. He was so severely beaten that he had brain damage and amnesia.
Johnston said Strauss had threatened him with death several times if he ever revealed what had happened that evening.
The threats, he testified, continued even while they were both in jail awaiting trial.
Johnston claimed that Strauss had, at one stage, had a change of heart and decided to "come out with the truth".
Strauss wrote a letter while in jail, which he gave to Johnston's mother.
Asked her for R500
In the letter, he took all the blame and said Johnston was innocent.
Strauss, however, now said the letter was a lie and he was bribed by Johnston's family to take the blame.
The Johnstons denied this.
Esmé Johnston, Johan's mother, testified on Thursday that Strauss had asked her for R500 after having given her the letter, but she had not offered or handed over any cash.
"I only told him I would pray for him," she said.
The case continues.
- SAPA