Brutal farm murder trial continues
2012-06-04 14:21
Johannesburg - A man, convicted of murdering his former employers on their farm, is expected to appear in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday.
The court convicted Akona Innocent Gini, 30, in May this year.
Judge Cynthia Pretorius found Gini guilty of killing dairy farmer Johannes van den Bosch, 63, and his wife Jacobi, 60, on their farm at Mooiplaats, east of Pretoria in April 2009.
Gini was also convicted on a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances for robbing the couple of their cellphones and a set of keys.
Gini previously worked for the couple, but was fired six months before their murder, following a burglary at the farm.
The Van den Bosches son Wim, who still lives on the farm, discovered their bodies.
Van den Bosch was bludgeoned to death while tending to calves in the dairy on his farm. His wife died inside their home after being stabbed several times.
Police assault claim
Cellphone records led police to an address in Witbank, where they found Gini's wife, Violet, in possession of Johannes van den Bosch's cellphone, with a different SIM card inside.
Violet Gini gave police information leading to her husband's arrest in a squatter camp near Witbank. He had Jacobi van den Bosch's cellphone in his pocket at the time of his arrest.
Gini later pointed out the scene of the crime to the police.
In court he claimed police had never explained his right to silence and had assaulted him. Gini denied the pointing out and that he had said anything to the police.
Pretorius found that his rights had been explained to him, he was not coerced in any way and that the pointing out had been free and voluntary.
The trial was postponed for further police evidence, after Gini refused to admit to his four previous convictions for housebreaking.
- SAPA
