Security guard disputes statement by murder accused

security guard from the Sandton Sky apartments has disputed seeing Karabo Mokoena lying on the floor with pills scattered around.

During proceedings at the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday, guard Isaac Mabasa told the court that when he opened Sandile Mantsoe’s apartment, he did not see Mokoena on the floor with pills.

A year ago, Mokoena was found murdered in a ditch, allegedly at the hands of ex-boyfriend Mantsoe. Her body had been doused with petrol and a tyre placed around her and set alight.

State prosecutor Mike Hlatshwayo called Constable Pule Khotelo to the stand, who told the court he went to the Sky apartments to look for an entry in the occurrence book after he saw a statement made by Mantsoe, which said he asked the security guards to open the door for him because he had left his key inside.

“I only found one entry for April 29, 2017,” Khotelo said.

Khotelo said in the statement by Mantsoe, Mantsoe had stated that when the security guard opened the apartment, they found Mokoena on the floor with pills surrounding her.

Earlier, Malerato Ramela, the doctor who did the autopsy on Mokoena, said due to the absence of a large part of the body she could not determine whether Mokoena was alive or dead when she was burnt.

The trial resumes today. – ANA