Kowie murder-accused claims self-defence

THE man accused of murdering Port Alfred businessman Noel Maddocks said yesterday in his bail application he was acting in self-defence.

Nelson Mandela Township tavern owner Tonny Donile said he was invited to the house he shared with his German girlfriend, Pia Roser, and was attacked by a naked Maddocks as he tried to push the back door open.

He told magistrate Xolile Dlulisa the back door had been left unlocked for him by Roser and that he had had no idea that Maddocks was there.

Pressed by prosecutor Johan Carstens to explain why Maddocks was stabbed 30 times if he was acting in self-defence, Donile said he had not counted the number of wounds.

He said he would prefer to elaborate at his trial.

Donile said when he had tried to push the unlocked back door open it had been blocked by what he thought was one of two dogs at the house.

When he had reached around to move the dog, Donile said he had been stabbed in the hand by Maddocks.

He said he had then broken the door to get in and had been attacked by Maddocks.

Donile said he had left the house afterwards and phoned a policeman friend to hand himself over because he had been scared that white policemen at the police station would not believe his version of what had happened.

He said he had been arrested when he flagged down a passing police van after he saw the driver and passenger were black. He denied he had been trying to flee town.

Donile, who admitted five previous assault convictions, said he was in love with Roser and she had been his girlfriend for seven years.

He told Carstens that claims by Roser that she feared for her life if he received bail were “pure lies”.

Donile said an old injury to Roser’s lip had occurred when they were both under the influence of alcohol and he had “accidentally” bumped her.

He declined to answer questions about an incident on July 4 when he had allegedly become jealous “again” and dragged Roser by her hair.

Donile denied claims in a statement by Roser that he had called her from prison twice since he was arrested.

Donile’s cousin, Lulekwa Kulati, testified he had still been in a relationship with Roser at the time of the attack.

She said Roser was not afraid of Donile and had even sent SMSes and called after his arrest. She had saved the messages and sent them to Donile’s attorney, Basil Williams.

Kulati also recounted a conversation she had when Roser called her.

Kulati said they had spoken about a visit by Roser and Donile two weeks before the incident to his relative’s house in Port Elizabeth where they had slept together in the same room.

She claimed Roser had said she and Donile were just friends and “kept everything professional”.

Kulati said when she had pointed out to Roser that they were still sleeping together, she had cried.

“I said it was the same as the man who was killed.”

The bail hearing continues on September 14. —