Second confession admitted as evidence in murder trial

A second confession statement by one of the men accused of murdering Denise Webber, 78, has been admitted as evidence.

Port Elizabeth High Court judge Irma Schoeman ruled on Tuesday that Thanduxolo Vumasonke’s confession to police be admitted following another trial-within-a-trial.

Last week, Schoeman allowed the confession by co-accused Mkhuseli Ngqanda, 29, to be submitted as evidence after he claimed he was not read his rights prior to making the statement.

In his statement, Vumasonke, 23, said he was contacted by Ngqanda and a third accused, Sinethemba Nenembe, 28, in August 2015 to go with them to a house in Kabega Park with the intent to rob it.

Arriving by car, they met up with Fikile Mengo, 20, who was helping to wash walls.

Vumasonke claimed that once inside the property he was instructed to keep watch over the domestic worker, who was lying face down in a room.

Mengo allegedly tied her hands with cable ties before the others ransacked the house and left with a number of valuables.

Vumasonke claimed all four of them left and, while driving to Kwazakhele, Mengo called his mother to inform her the house where he was working had been robbed and he was put in a car boot before being dropped off near Korsten.

In stark contrast, Ngqanda claimed in his statement to police he was merely the driver of the vehicle and did not take part in the robbery at all.

Neither man admitted involvement in the murder of Webber, who was strangled while being tied up with cable ties.

Shortly after Schoeman made her ruling on Tuesday, another trial-within-a-trial started when Mengo objected to his alleged confession statement being used as evidence.

He claimed he was forced to make the statement and implicate Ngqanda and Vumasonke.

Mengo claimed further he was assaulted by the investigating officer and was not read his rights.

The case continues.