#RIPKaraboMokoena: Damning testimonies heard during murder trial
JOHANNESBURG – During the proceedings, the media was barred from taking pictures but were allowed to broadcast via social media platforms.
On day two of the Sandile Mantsoe’s murder trial, two witnesses described the accused as an abusive partner who allegedly inflicted pain and suffering on his victim.
Mantsoe, who is facing charges of murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice, appeared again on 17 April for the murder of Karabo Mokoena, his ex-girlfriend. He allegedly killed her, dumped her body in a shallow grave in Lyndhurst before setting her alight in April last year.
Read: LIVE TWEETS: Emotional day in court for #KaraboMokoena’s sister
On 17 May, the victim’s sister, Bontle Mokoena, testified in the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg about the torment her younger sister suffered while in a relationship with Mantsoe.
Bontle, as referred to in court, testified that her sister confessed to her that the accused was the one who had her hospitalised on the day of her birthday on 17 April 2016, weeks before she was killed.
This follows the testimony the court heard from another witness and a friend of the pair, Stephy Leong on 16 April. The two apparently had an altercation at Sandton Sky apartments where they both stayed, and Mantsoe allegedly pushed Mokoena so hard that she fell and hit her head on the ground and had to be hospitalised.
Bontle told the court that no one could get hold of Mokoena on her birthday and she could not be found. It was only the next day that the deceased called her from Morningside Clinic to tell her she was in hospital.
Read: VIDEO: Karabo Mokoena’s alleged killer charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice
Bontle went to the hospital to check up on her. “She had been discharged and we then went to the accused’s apartment in Sandton to fetch her clothes,” said Bontle.
“My sister told me then that it was the accused who had assaulted her. She had bruises on her legs as well as on her neck and she was also injured in her eye.”
Another witness, Puleng Mthethwa, also a close friend of the deceased, testified that her friend had been assaulted by the accused before. She said there was a time when Mantsoe smashed Mokoena’s phone against the wall because she didn’t want him to access her phone without permission. “The next day, we went to his hotel at the Hydro Hostel where he stayed previously, and when Karabo confronted him, he assaulted her again.
“Sandile then left and came back later while Karabo was sleeping in the bedroom and he continued to assault her and even dragged her out of the bedroom screaming and shouting at her. He then took her into his car and drove away and, while we thought he took her to a safe place or perhaps home, he, in fact, dropped her on the highway.”
Read: #RIPKarabo: Murder accused Sandile Mantsoe in court for trial – Karabo’s friend testifies
The accused then apparently went back to the Hydro and took the deceased’s clothes and other belongings, without talking to anyone.
The case was postponed for day three with more witnesses expected to take the stand.
Details: www.npa.gov.za
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