Chilling details of killing
Court hears Mrwetyana was raped twice, body hidden in safe, later doused and set alight
MURDERED UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19, was raped twice, her body hid inside the safe of the post office, and then later dumped and doused with an accelerant before being set alight.
These chilling details are contained in the indictment and summary of facts that senior counsel for the State, Rodney de Kock handed into the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
Prior to handing in the documents, Johan Solomons, representing murder accused Luyanda Botha, allowed his client to peruse the document and discuss them with him.
De Kock then informed Magistrate Goolam Bawa that the matter was referred to the Western Cape High Court for pre-trial purposes next Friday.
Botha is facing two counts of rape, one of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Botha was a postal worker at the Clareinch Post Office in Claremont and is accused of murdering Mrwetyana on August 24 this year and dumping her body in Lingelethu West, Khayelitsha. Her body was found two days later after the accused made a statement and led investigators to where her body was.
According to the State’s papers, Mrwetyana purchased clothes online and the parcel was due for collection at the post office.
She had made enquiries on August 8 and was assisted by Botha who allegedly told her the parcel was not ready for collection and he would contact her when it arrived.
In the summary of the facts, the State said: “The parcel arrived on August 16 and on Saturday, August 24, Mrwetyana arrived at the post office after it was closed for business. The accused was alone inside the post office and let her in. She was not seen alive again.
“The accused allegedly raped the deceased twice and then assaulted her to death. He then hid her body inside the safe of the post office. On Sunday, August 25, the accused removed the body from the post office and transported it in his vehicle to Lingelethu West. He dumped her body, doused it with an accelerant and set it alight.”
According to the prosecution, the post-mortem examination indicated the cause of death was head injury and the consequences thereof. She was repeatedly hit on the head with a blunt object.
The State contends Botha is responsible for the rape and murder of Mrwetyana and defeating the administration of justice by disposing of her body by setting it alight and also had his car cleaned to destroy forensic evidence.