Murder accused Sandile Mantsoe, who allegedly killed and burnt his girlfriend of eight months Karabo Mokoena, pleaded not guilty today to the three charges that he is facing in the South Gauteng High Court.
Mantsoe is accused of premeditated murder, defeating the ends of justice, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
According to reports, the accused pleaded not guilty to all three charges and said Mokoena had committed suicide.
It is reported that one of the state witnesses refuted the claim that Mokoena committed suicide, saying the accused had been a controlling person.
The Independent Online reports that CCTV footage from the accused’s apartments as well as blood stains under the carpet of his apartment could be crucial in proving he is guilty.
According to the report, a state witness told the court that she had seen video footage from Mantsoe’s apartment building control room.
The witness is quoted as saying that in the footage they saw Mokoena and Mantsoe enter a lift, however, the witness reportedly further said in the footage they never saw the deceased again, but only the accused who went in and out of the building and who is later seen exiting the building with refuse bags.
“He came back with a big Pikitup dustbin. He then went with the dustbin to his car. There were two other people at his car, but it was unclear what was happening,” the witness is quoted as saying, adding that in the footage they saw the dustbin being placed in the car and that the car then drove off only to return later.
It is reported that the footage was from the early hours of April 28, 2017.
The trial was postponed to tomorrow and the accused will remain in custody.
The case was postponed last month after new developments emerged during consultation with witnesses.
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