Triple killing: State winds up

2004-06-04 19:34

Pretoria - The State wrapped up its case on Friday against convicted rapist and kidnapper William Kekana in the Temba Circuit Court outside Pretoria.

Advocate Dewald Reynierse cross-examining Kekana's evidence-in-chief tried to show the court Kekana had acted in "common purpose" in the crime - in which he and Charles Fido Baloyi kidnapped Hester Rawstone, 52, one-year-old Kayla Rawstone, and Janine Drennan, 24, on July 31 2003 outside the Union Buildings.

By midnight that night, Rawstone and Kayla had been shot dead, Drennan and a 17-year-old woman, who was abducted later by Kekana and Baloyi, had been raped and shot - Drennan fatally.

"I put it bluntly that you are lying to this court," Reynierse told Kekana after he tried to infer he had been forced by Baloyi to take part in the crimes. Baloyi has since died.

On Tuesday, Kekana, who pleaded guilty to 10 of the 14 charges against him, admitted he had abducted the victims, raped the 17-year-old girl and had tried to kill her, but denied involvement in the death of Rawstone, Kayla and Drennan.

Claimed he was shot in the knee

Reynierse argued that Kekana, who testified the original plan had been to hijack a car, had various opportunities to leave Baloyi and even to stop the "atrocities" from happening.

Kekana testified that Baloyi had shot him in the leg when he objected to Rawstone being killed on the Hebron road.

"We had an argument. He told me I would die like the old lady... he shot me in the knee."

During cross examination, Kekana was adamant he played no part in the death of baby Kayla and Drennan, whom he claimed were shot by Baloyi, while he was raping the 17-year-old on the "boot of the car".

Kekana said he had heard the shot while raping the witness, but had not seen the actual shooting.

Reynierse said Kekana had tried to hide his involvement in the crime and asked the court reject his evidence.

Kekana had pleaded guilty to 10 counts

Kekana's defence counsel, advocate Janus Roothman, said he could not argue differently from the State on grounds of common purpose, but said the court should take note that Kekana had already pleaded guilty to most of the crimes against him.

He said the State could not prove beyond any measure of doubt that Kekana had been involved in the murders.

"If one shoots and one doesn't shoot, does that mean they should be treated differently," asked Judge Monica Leeuw.

Only in terms of sentencing, Roothman argued.

The case was remanded to July 26 for judgment.

- SAPA