Moodley gets BMW, trailer back
2005-02-08 19:13
Johannesburg - A BMW car and a trailer must be returned to Donovan Moodley - accused of kidnapping and murdering student Leigh Matthews last year - Johannesburg High Court ordered on Tuesday.
An agreement reached between the State and Moodley's lawyer about the assets seized when Moodley was arrested was made an order of court by Judge Nigel Willis.
The trailer will be returned to Moodley's fiancée, in whose name it was registered, while the BMW will be returned to Moodley's brother-in-law, who was buying it.
The State will keep - pending the outcome of the trial -- a Toyota Tazz, a motorbike and Moodley's fiancée's engagement ring.
Moodley will appear in Wynberg magistrate's court again next Thursday on charges of extortion, robbery, kidnapping and murder.
KIdnapped in July
The case was expected to be transferred to Johannesburg High Court, unless Moodley was referred for 30 days' mental observation.
Leigh Matthews was kidnapped from Bond University campus in Sandton in July last year.
Her body was found about two weeks later in the veld near Walkerville in the Vaal Rand policing area.
Moodley's assets were seized about two months ago, pending the outcome of the trial.
His lawyer, Jonathan Minnie, applied for the return of some of the assets claiming that more than R250 000 worth had been seized while the original court order was for assets worth R50 000.
The ransom demanded from Matthews' parents after she was kidnapped was R50 000.
- SAPA