Bouwer case: Slang to stay

2003-06-05 21:07

Johannesburg - A request in the murder trial of Colin Bouwer to have the testimony of private investigator Abram "Slang" van Zyl excluded - allegedly for communicating with a witness - was denied in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.

Referring to the testimony of paramedic Jurgen Dyssel earlier this week, Van Zyl - testifying at an enquiry into the allegation - said: "I communicated no message whether verbally or by signs".

He said he met Dyssel and his partner for the first time on Monday at court and said he definitely had no arrangements with him that certain signs would convey certain meanings.

Dyssel told the court he did not notice any handsigns by Van Zyl.

A close friend of the Bouwer family, Lorraineshia Hayes, testified she was taking notes while sitting in the public gallery when she noticed what appeared to be suspicious behaviour on the part of Van Zyl.

Van Zyl, who was hired by Maria Bouwer's mother, Louise van Schalkwyk, sat between the investigating officer and Riaan Kock - prosecuting since the trial commenced on Monday - throughout the trial.

The judge found there was no reason why Van Zyl should be excluded from assisting the prosecutor during the trial.

Van Zyl, in reply to a question by defence attorney Jan Moller, said he had been fully paid by Van Schalkwyk and had no financial interest in the outcome of the Bouwer murder trial.

Former police inspector Pieter van Wyk testified he was called to the Kempton Park murder scene where he found no evidence of forced entry into the Berghaan Street house.

Van Wyk said the lower part of Bouwer's body was naked and that her clothing was still on her body but had been pulled down. Her underwear was missing and she had bruising around the neck.

The trial continues on Friday.

- SAPA