Straight off the bat State Prosecutor Paseka Temeki wanted to know why Marthinus Pelser did not report the death of his baby to the authorities.
Again Pelser claimed that he knew he would be blamed. It was downhill from there. Temeki repeatedly pointed out that Pelser’s actions, after he knew his son was dead, “did not make sense” and “were not normal”. Pelser’s only defence was that he could not explain why he acted the way he did and at one stage switched to Afrikaans saying “I was not lekker in my kop”. Temeki also repeatedly pointed out that Pelser could remember certain things in the minutest detail but important events such as whether the couple had a fight not.
Also read: Pelser trial: Mother testifies for first time (graphic content)
Today was also the first time Temeki came out straight telling Pelser “You decided on that day to hurt the mother and son because she wanted to divorce you”. On another occasion, Temeki wanted to know why he wrote in the note that she must call the Police and send someone to the veld where he was. Pelsser said he thought the medication he took would have killed him by that stage and that he did not want her to “walk in on the mess”. “Yes, the mess you made,” replied Temeki.
Pelser trial: Accused finally takes the stand
When Temeki asked Pelser to explain the extensive internal injuries his only reply was that “someone must explain it to me”.
When he was asked when his son was born he said 2014, instead of the correct year 2015.
Pelser trial: First day of cross-examination theatre of the absurd
At times his answers and replies became so absurd that Magistrate Delize Smith twice had to silence the gallery when they burst out laughing.
Cross-examination will resume at 2pm.
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