‘I didn’t pour petrol on her’ – accused
The man accused of the attempted of Jennifer van Tonder argued that he did not pour petrol on the victim, the court heard.
PALMRIDGE – The trial of the man who allegedly attempted to burn Southcrest resident Jennifer van Tonder, alive, began on Tuesday, August 4, in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
Two days of testimony from three state witnesses and the accused produced a contradictory picture.
The state pursued a case of attempted murder against the accused following the events of July 24, 2014. According to testimony given by Jennifer van Tonder, she was preparing to leave for work on Thursday when she saw the accused, who had previously been employed as a gardener by her housemate, approaching her car.
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Jennifer reportedly lowered her window to ask what he wanted when the accused is believed to have lifted his arm holding a jug and stated, “Now, you will burn”.
Jennifer said that she heard the clicking sound of a lighter and then felt burning. After Jennifer escaped the burning vehicle she was taken to the Netcare Union Hospital.
She was later transferred to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Jennifer was in the intensive care unit for seven days and was discharged on August 18, 26 days after the incident.
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All three state witnesses testified that the accused had been dismissed from work because he was frequently intoxicated and in one particular instance became abusive while drunk. Two witnesses attested that he had threatened them directly after the incident.
The accused disagreed with the witnesses’ version of the events and pleaded not guilty. He claimed that the incident was not intentional and resulted accidentally when he spilled petrol on the car after losing his balance.
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He could not give a reason for the petrol igniting but stated under examination, “I didn’t pour petrol on her. If I did she would burn”.
When the accused made this statement, Jennifer was heard saying, “I did burn”.
The trial will resume on August 25 with opposing attorneys arguing the merits of the case.
