Chef: Blood wasn't mine

2003-09-17 16:38

Johannesburg - Fanwell Khumalo, the chef accused of 132 sexual offences against young girls, denied in the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday that a blood sample used for DNA testing was his.

Advocate Mike Millar, acting for Khumalo, said while the accused did not dispute the fact that blood had been taken from him in an acceptable manner, he did not believe the sample that was taken to Pretoria for testing was his.

However, Inspector Marie Stroh, testified that a certain Inspector F Ungerer delivered a "sealed blood crime kit" to her in Braamfontein on May 17, 2001. She said she did not let it out of her sight from that moment on, until she delivered it to the forensic laboratory in Pretoria two hours later. She was not present when the samples were taken.

Khumalo claimed in court appearances earlier this year that he was the victim of mistaken identity and was innocent of charges relating to the kidnapping and rape of a number of young girls from the age of seven years up.

If found guilty Khumalo would have the distinction of being South Africa's worst serial rapist to date in terms of the number of victims.

The trial continues.

- SAPA