Pretoria - One of the men accused of plotting Chanelle
Henning's murder was asked to keep surveillance on her, the North Gauteng High
Court in Pretoria heard on Tuesday.
"[Henning's estranged husband] Nico asked if I could
find someone to watch Chanelle to see if she used drugs or bought drugs,"
Andre Gouws told the court.
He said the couple were getting divorced and fighting
over custody of their son. He said a psychologist's report suggested it was
possible Chanelle Henning used drugs.
Henning, 26, died in a drive-by shooting in Faerie Glen
on 8 November 2011, shortly after dropping off her child at a crèche.
Gouws and his co-accused, former Nigerian Olympic athlete
Ambrose Monye, have pleaded not guilty to five charges relating to an alleged
conspiracy to murder Henning.
The State alleges Monye and Gouws conspired with former
policeman Gerhardus "Doepie" du Plessis and Willem "Pike"
Pieterse (alias Tattoo).
Du Plessis and Pieterse are serving 18-year prison terms
after confessing to their roles in the murder.
On Tuesday Gouws testified about his relationship with
Nico Henning.
"We are very good friends," Gouws said.
They first met in about 1989 when he gave Nico Henning
and his girlfriend a job while they were studying.
Gouws's lawyer Daan Mostert asked him if he helped Nico
Henning with his divorce.
Molestation claims
Gouws said there were allegations against Nico Henning
that he had molested his son.
"That's when I became involved."
He said he "observed" Chanelle Henning between
the crèche and the school where she worked.
"It happened a few times, but she knew me so I
couldn't get close enough to determine if there were any transactions,"
Gouws said.
"I checked if she stopped anywhere strange or
stopped with strange people."
He said he observed her a month or two before she was
killed.
"I approached Mr Monye who is a role-player in the
drug world," he said.
Gouws said he broadly explained Nico Henning's situation
to Monye and said they needed proof of Chanelle's drug use.
"I told Monye the first prize would be if a police
official could arrest her while [her son] was in the car."
He said the second prize would be if she was caught with
drugs in her possession or buying drugs.
"Mr Monye said he has a metro cop on his payroll,
who would be able to handle it," Gouws said.
