Mahlangu 'asked for help before murder'
2011-10-19 11:11
Ventersdorp - The man accused of killing rightwing leader Eugene Terre'Blanche approached the police for help before the murder, the High Court sitting in Ventersdorp heard on Wednesday.
Farmworker Chris Mahlangu, 28, was turned away as none of the police officers wanted to confront Terre'Blanche.
"He [Mahlangu] said he had a problem with the deceased before the incident. That he was already beaten by the deceased, including that he [Terre'Blanche] choked him and slightly lifted him," Mahlangu’s attorney Kgomotso Tlouane said.
"He [Mahlangu] will further testify that he tried to report it to the Ventersdorp police station and they never listened."
Mahlangu overheard police officers asking each other who would go and speak to Terre'Blanche. He got the impression they were scared, as nobody wanted to confront the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging leader.
Tlouane said Mahlangu would testify he was beaten once. The 28-year-old was in "need, without money and food, and he was not a learned man".
Police officers never told him what his options were. Mahlangu had no choice but to return to the farm and be beaten, the court heard.
He, however, had had no visible marks on him to show the police.
Mahlangu and a minor are accused of beating and hacking Terre’Blanche to death at his farmhouse in North West on April 03 last year. Both have pleaded not guilty to murder, housebreaking, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Mahlangu claims he acted in self defence. The 16-year-old has denied involvement in the crime.
- SAPA
