Leigh's father slams media
2004-10-06 10:02
Johannesburg - Leigh Matthews's father lashed out at the media on Wednesday
morning, as family, friends, and journalists waited for the court
appearance of the man suspected of kidnapping and murdering her.
Rob Matthews was angry that a Johannesburg newspaper had
mentioned the suspect's name, possibly prejudicing an identity
parade, which was to be held before the Randburg magistrate's
court.
"There is such a thing as responsible reporting," he said to a
group of reporters and photographers - saying he did not wish to
be quoted on anything or photographed.
Matthews's mother and friends had also gathered outside the
court.
Sharon Matthews, her mother, said she was feeling nervous.
"I have nothing to say. You (the media) know more than I do
about this," she told a Sapa reporter at the court.
Earlier, the 24-year-old murder suspect arrived at the court
under a police escort.
He was wearing brown trousers, a red and white striped shirt,
and carried his jacket over his face.
The man was arrested in Alberton on Monday following nearly
three months of intensive police investigations led by a team of
top Johannesburg detectives.
The suspect is a student at Bond University in Sandton, the same
institution that Matthews attended.
The case will be postponed later on Wednesday and the trial -
on kidnapping and murder charges - will eventually be in the
Johannesburg High Court.
Matthews disappeared from outside the university on July 9 -
the day before she was to have celebrated her 21st birthday.
Her body was found 12 days later by a municipal worker cutting
grass in Walkerville, South of Johannesburg. She had been shot.
A ransom of R300 000 was demanded but only R50 000 was handed
over, detectives confirmed on Tuesday.
They also confirmed that the murder weapon and the ring Matthews
was wearing at the time she disappeared had been recovered.
- SAPA
