Lesbian’s killer left no prints at dwelling

Police did find blood spatters, forced burglar gate lock, broken glass

NO FINGERPRINTS could be lifted at the home of slain lesbian Noluvo Swelindawo, the Western Cape High Court heard. Swelindawo was kidnapped from her home in the Sophakamile informal settlement in Driftsands on December 3 last year. Her body was found near a footbridge in Khayelitsha, at the side of the N2, the following day. Next to her body police found an empty 9mm cartridge case.

Investigating officer Constable Simphiwe Thubeni said after police left the crime scene at the footbridge they went to the deceased’s home, where they found the front window had been broken and the burglar gate’s lock bent inward.

Swelindawo had lived in a two-bedroom shack with an open-plan kitchen and TV room, which was divided by a wall unit cupboard.

“The doorlock was open and appeared to have been forced. It appeared as if something had been inserted inside the lock. Glass from the broken window had fallen inside the house.

“In her bedroom, the bed was not leaning against the wall and there was a gap of about 300cm. A bucket was standing on the side, it had water and some blood spatters. A bloodied damp towel was hanging on a nearby bench,” said Thubeni. The bedroom curtain was open.

The investigating officer said an officer from the local criminal record division took photos in Swelindawo’s home, as well as prints and blood samples.

“There was an attempt to lift fingerprints but none could be found at the window, gate and door. The blood in the bucket was collected using a swab, but results showed that the blood was that of the deceased. “The towel was damp,” he said.

Sigcine Mdani is on trial for Swelindawo’s murder. He is accused of breaking and entering, assault, kidnapping and murder.

Two days before Swelindawo’s body was discovered, Mdani and the deceased had been involved in a fight in which she suffered a cut to the chin and injured her left eye.

Thubeni said according to his witnesses, Mdani had attempted to murder the deceased when he was beating her.

“He was not just hitting her. He was attempting to kill her because when he would kick her she would knock her head on the tarred road,” he said.

Mdani’s lawyer, advocate Sheriff Mohammed, said the accused denied the charges against him.

He said, according to the accused, the fight broke out the week before Swelindawo’s death. –

TWO DAYS BEFORE SWELINDAWO’S BODY WAS DISCOVERED, THE ACCUSED AND THE DECEASED HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A FIGHT