Iyapha rape accused forced to confess

THE man accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 4-year-old Iyapha Yamile said police forced him to confess to the crime.

Odwa Nkololo is faced with two charges of rape, a charge of kidnapping and murder. It is the State’s case that on April 30, last year, he kidnapped Iyapha, raped her and strangled her to death. Just a month before, it is alleged he raped a close friend’s 7-year-old daughter on March 24 last year. Both incidents occurred in Town Two, Khayelitsha.

Iyapha went missing while playing outside her aunt’s home. Her body was found the following day. Nkololo was linked to the crimes by DNA evidence.

Yesterday, the Western Cape High Court held a trial within a trial for the alleged forced confession. Defence lawyer, Susanne Kuun said her client claims to have been assaulted by the investigating officer on July 13 last year on the day of his arrest. He alleged that police slammed the door on his genitals. This was denied by investigating officer Luyanda Mathanjana.

Mathanjana said Nkololo was interviewed by him from 6pm to 8pm. He said at this interview the accused indicted his wish to confess. Nkololo was then transferred to Site B police station, from Harare, where he would meet with a Captain Bavuma.

Kuun said Nkololo got an impression that the confession was pre-arranged and that the captain was not objective.

A Local Criminal Records Centre videographer, Warrant Officer Derek Koch said when he captured the confession Nkololo appeared calm and relaxed.

Koch said subsequent to the recording being done he realised that the SD card which was used to record was defective. He said he was charged at a disciplinary hearing for that.

HE ALLEGED THAT POLICE SLAMMED THE DOOR ON HIS GENITALS