Defence grills witness in Brits farm murder case

Conflicting versions puts credibility to test

The defence in the trial of a North West farmer’s son accused of killing a man suspected of stealing scrap metal has questioned the credibility of the state witness, pointing out glaring contradictions in his statements.

In his first statement to the police, state witness, Benny Lerumo, said the accused, Matthew Benson, 25, used a rifle to shoot at them but later made another statement saying he was not sure what firearm the accused had used.

Benson was arrested in September last year for the alleged murder of Tebogo Ndlovu of Majakaneng, outside Brits, on August 2, 2017, at a farm near Mooinooi.

The state’s case is that Benson fired shots at Ndlovu and his two friends when the trio entered the farm to steal scrap metal. Benson allegedly fired shots at them, hitting Ndlovu.

Ndlovu has never been seen since the alleged incident.

Defence advocate, Jaap Cilliers SC, put it to Lerumo, who was with Ndlovu during the alleged shooting, that he changed his statement that Benson used a rifle only when the police told him that cartridges found on the scene were that of a pistol.

Lerumo said he could not recall but Cilliers cautioned him not to underestimate the intelligence of the court.

“There is an old saying that ‘do not let a beautiful hypothesis to be destroyed by an ugly fact’ which you seem to apply here,” he said.

The court heard that the domestic worker told the police that she asked Lerumo what firearm the shooter used, to which he answered ‘a long one’ and that the shooter was an orange farmer.

Cilliers said the domestic worker told the police that the owner of the farm did not own a rifle but it was the accused’s father at the orange farm next door who had a rifle.

The trial continues today.