Moodley: I'll plead not guilty
2004-10-16 15:50
Johannesburg - Donovan Samuel Moodley, 24, who is in custody and charged with the abduction and murder of Leigh Matthews intends to plead not guilty.
When Moodley appeared for the second time in Randburg regional court, Johannesburg, on Friday, he asked his lawyer to make this statement on his behalf.
Louis Weinstein said outside the court: "The accused will strongly deny that he is guilty.
"He will plead not guilty in his application for bail and on all charges during his trial.
"He asked me just now to say this in public."
Moodley was taken from Sandton police cells to the court early on Friday.
When he appeared in court for the first time, he covered his face with his jacket.
On Friday, however, he was not bothered about this when he climbed out of the police car and calmly faced the cameras.
He was handcuffed when he was taken to the court's detention cells while about 30 family and friends packed the regional court.
The group sat in the front row, exactly where Leigh's parents, Rob and Sharon Matthews, sat last week.
Moodley's fiancée, with a striking blue bow matching the colour of her contact lenses, was also in court.
Everybody around Ms Yeshika Singh wore identical blue ribbons, apparently to show their support for Moodley. None of Leigh's family or friends were in court.
The unshaven Moodley later walked to the dock in trainers without laces.
"How are you? Are you OK," Singh whispered at him, and gave him an encouraging smile.
He merely nodded his head and said softly: "I love you."
Senior state prosecutor Pieter Erasmus asked that Moodley's application for bail be postponed until October 22.
Monday, October 25, also has been earmarked for the bail application in Wynberg regional court in Sandton as it is possible witnesses will be called.
Weinstein asked special permission from regional magistrate Joe Kgomo not to transfer Moodley to Johannesburg Prison.
He asked that Moodley be kept in the Sandton cells as a witness in his bail application "culd not travel so far" for consultations.
Weinstein also said he had to meet Moodley and the witness together at the weekend and that the prison did not allow consultations then.
"This means that the defence may not be ready by next week."
Kgomo refused and postponed the application for bail.
Friends then grabbed and held Moodley's hands while he went down the stairs to the court cells.
Leigh's parents were asked not to attend Friday's court proceedings or next week's bail application as they may be needed to testify later in Moodley's hearing.
Weinstein advised Moodley's parents not to come to court.
"The reason is to prevent any conflict with the public and media and not to be exposed to further stress and tension," he said.
Moodley's fiancé wore a pair of sunglasses when she stormed out of court, climbed into a white Mercedes-Benz and drove off.
Neither she nor her parents were willing to talk to Beeld.