Defence pokes holes in Nassif evidence

2010-07-29 18:05

Johannesburg - Lawyers for drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti on Thursday poked holes in the testimony of the state's sixth witness, former security boss Clinton Nassif.

Agliotti's attorney advocate Laurence Hodes pointed out evidence in Nassif's statement to the Scorpions which contradicted his evidence given in Court 4C of the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday.

Agliotti is on trial for mining magnate Brett Kebble's murder in 2005, and for conspiring to murder Kebble and three other men. Nassif was Kebble's head of security.

Nassif's testimony was the first to link Agliotti to the Kebble murder and to the shooting of former Allan Gray auditor Stephen Mildenhall, who was seen to be standing in the way of Kebble getting loans for his mining companies.

Hodes put to Nassif that he had left Agliotti out of his statement to the now-defunct Scorpions, which contradicted his testimony in court.

"In relating with Brett Kebble you never interposed Mr Agliotti... between the two of you... when you made that statement as you did in this court," Hodes said.

Nassif replied: "I was providing Mr Stratton and Mr Kebble with services, not Mr Agliotti."

To which Hodes replied: "That's music to my ears."

Hodes questioned Nassif about these "services", which included intelligence gathering, surveillance and even framing people. One incident referred to was when Nassif had child pornography placed on the computer of a Kebble employee.

Hodes told Nassif he did not qualify as a Section 204 witness, proceeding to point out the number of lies he told.

According to Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act, an accused can get indemnity from prosecution if their testimony to the court is honest.

Hodes's cross examination of Nassif continues on Friday.

- SAPA