Accused ‘confesses’ to murder

Cop tells court that Mantsoe showed them crime scene

APOLICE colonel testifying in the trial against Sandile Mantsoe, who allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend Karabo Mokoena, told the South Gauteng High Court the accused pointed out the scene of the crime of his own free will.

“I just want to do the right thing,” Mantsoe said in a statement compiled by Colonel Andre de Klerk.

State prosecutor Mike Hlatswayo called De Klerk, who has been a member of the SAPS for 34 years, and was present when Mantsoe reportedly pointed out the body of Mokoena.

“I was contacted by a certain captain from Sandringham, he informed me that they had made an arrest in a murder case and the suspect wanted to point out the murder scene, and he asked me to assist.”

De Klerk said he went to Sandton police station where Mantsoe was detained: “I sat down with him at the interview cells and I started completing the interview, pointing out notes.”

Earlier, the State submitted photographs to the court that showed the injuries sustained by Mokoena on March 27, 2017. They relate to count one, which is assault.

De Klerk said Mantsoe told him

‘I PUT THE TYRE AROUND HER AND BURNT HER AND WALKED AWAY’

he knew where Mokoena’s body was because he disposed of it.

He said that Mantsoe said he put a tyre around Mokoena and burnt her.

“I discovered her dead body and made plans to discard of the body,” De Klerk testified, as he read from notes he compiled with Mantsoe.

De Klerk said Mantsoe said he found Mokoena’s body between 5pm and 6pm. Mantsoe told De Klerk he bought petrol at 7pm on March 28 before proceeding to his mother’s house, where he got a tyre and pool acid from the tool shed.

“I rolled her body into the ditch and she was facing the road, I put the tyre around her and burnt her and walked away,” De Klerk read from Mantsoe’s statement. – African News Agency (ANA)