Addict 'taking rap for cash'

2005-08-16 22:24

Pretoria - Self-confessed drug addict Willie Strauss agreed to take the blame for the murder of a nurse in return for money, Pretoria High Court was told on Tuesday.

Strauss said he wrote a letter in jail admitting he had killed 23-year-old Academic Hospital nurse Laetitia Brown and assaulted Deon Engelbrecht.

Strauss also admitted that he asked the parents of his co-accused, Johan Johnston, for forgiveness because he initially implicated their son in the events of March 13 2003.

Strauss and Johnston of Hercules have pleaded not guilty to murdering Brown and almost killing Engelbrecht.

Brown's face was bludgeoned beyond recognition and Engelbrecht, who was in a coma for a month, had severe brain damage.

Strauss said he told Johnston's mother her son had played no part in what happened that night.

On Tuesday, Strauss claimed he had lied in the letter and that he had agreed to take the blame because Johnston's parents asked him to do this in return for money.

Burst into tears

He claimed he was offered R2 000 and that the family had promised to support him emotionally.

The Johnstons denied this and said Strauss wrote the letter without being prompted to do so.

Counsel for Johnston said his client was so surprised and relieved when he saw the letter that he burst into tears.

Strauss testified: "No, I wrote the letter in return for money. He was probably relieved because he thought he would now be able to get out of jail."

The court earlier heard that the two were at a nightclub, Jacqueline's, in Wonderboom, north of Pretoria, on the evening of the murder.

The two victims, who did not know each other beforehand, also were there. When the two left the club, Johnston and Strauss asked the nurse for a lift.

Strauss claimed Engelbrecht "promised them a coke party".

Trampled on 'the lady's head'

They stopped at a vacant spot in Kameeldrift where Strauss and Engelbrecht argued about who was going to provide the cocaine.

Strauss said he initially hit Engelbrecht and Brown several times with a stick, until they were lying still on the ground. He also trampled on "the lady's head" twice.

He added that Johnston took over the assaults and he had to eventually pull him off the woman.

Johnston, however, said Strauss became "a monster" and that he had not previously seen his friend act in that way.

- SAPA