Grim testimony in Boksburg murder trial
Wednesday April 13, 2005 14:47 - (SA)
Mariette Labuschagne realised her boyfriend and his two friends had assaulted a man when she saw blood on their hands while they were standing by him.
Labuschagne testified for the State in the murder trial of her former boyfriend Andrew Alves, and his friends Reon Cloete and Jose Smith in the Johannesburg High Court today.
The three men are accused of murdering Mozambican national Samuel Mucuanaze in a racial attack. He was assaulted in Boksburg on December 5 2003, and died of his injuries in Thambo Memorial Hospital four days later.
Labuschagne, 19, attended a braai at Alves' house that night. When she came back from buying drinks at a shop she noticed an injured black man lying in the street and the three accused standing near by.
"I asked them what happened, but no one answered. I then followed Jose into the house because he said he was phoning the police. Reon then said he (Mucuanaze) had been looking for trouble."
Talking on the phone, Smith allegedly told the police Mucuanaze was drunk and had been run over by a car. He asked for him to be moved from the street.
State advocate Nerisha Naidoo asked if Smith was actually speaking to the police, because they never arrived. Labuschagne said she did not notice Smith dial a number.
Contrary to evidence given earlier by Hennie Badenhorst, a former friend of the accused, Labuschagne testified that no one at the braai had been drunk when the incident took place.
She told Judge John Horn she ran into the house after seeing the injured man and started crying. She said Alves came after her.
"He told me to keep quiet or he would make me quiet."
Alves then left with Cloete and Smith to buy petrol. While they were away, Labuschagne and Badenhorst started to drag the injured Mucuanaze to the other side of the street, hoping he might get away.
"I could see he was still alive, but he couldn't speak, because blood was flowing out of his mouth. He was very big and it took us five to 10 minutes to drag him across the street," Labuschagne said.
Mucuanaze had been lying by a tree trunk. Badenhorst testified earlier he saw Alves bash Mucuanaze's head against the trunk several times.
When the three accused returned Labuschagne went back into the house. She phoned her aunt to come and fetch her. When she was inside, Alves and Smith allegedly drove over Mucuanaze in Alves' car.
Labuschagne took a job offer in Hartebeespoort later to get away from Alves. She told the court Alves or Smith sent friends to intimidate her. Alves worked as a bouncer at a nightclub.
Alves, 27, and Smith, 25, are in custody. Cloete, 19, is out on R5,000 bail.
/Sapa/
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