THE STATE
A VEHICLE tracking report has placed a black Mercedes V-class allegedly used to kidnap Siam Lee at the scene where her charred body was found on a New Hanover farm, in the Kwazulu-natal Midlands.
The report emerged in court this week when State Prosecutor Surekha Marimuthu presented information in relation to the 16 counts faced by the accused, Mr P.
Marimuthu said Lee was kidnapped from the alleged brothel on Margaret Maytom Avenue. The accused was Lee’s last client, said Marimuthu.
But when Mr P was asked if he knew Lee, he responded: “I will not respond to that as it deals with the merits of the case.”
And so it was with almost every question put to Mr P by the prosecutor this week.
Details pertaining to the rape charge Mr P faces emerged. Marimuthu said that in 2016 Mr P had booked an escort via the redvelvet.com website.
“The State alleges that you picked her up, asked her to strip naked in your car and then took her to your home on Controversy Road where you repeatedly raped (her) later,” said Marimuthu.
She said the victim then alleged that Mr P had called her a “white racist c**t”.
Shortly after Marimuthu dealt with the counts faced by the accused, investigating officer Warrant Officer Rajan Govender took the stand to read out the State’s affidavit contending why the accused should not be granted bail.
The affidavit stated that a gun belonging to a Durban man who was found murdered in a Malvern home had been found in Mr P’s possession.
“When the applicant was arrested in Assagay, he was found in possession of a semi-automatic firearm and ammunition without a licence to possess same. It is believed that the said firearm belonged to one Mzisi Cele, who was shot and killed at his residence in Malvern.”
No information on when this murder happened or the link between Cele and Mr P was presented in court.
Revelations were also made regarding Mr P’s ex-fiancée who had charged him with crimen injuria, intimidation and attempted murder.
The court heard Mr P should not be granted bail because he was a danger to society and that he would try to evade his trial. It was also said Mr P would influence and intimidate witnesses or try to conceal and destroy evidence.
“There are no exceptional factors as to why the accused should receive bail,” said Govender.
When asked by magistrate Mohamed Motala if the accused was denied bail how long the matter would take to go on trial, Govender said that a senior public prosecutor had been assigned to put Mr P on trial in the Durban High Court. He said once transferred to the high court, the trial could proceed immediately.
The State alleges that you picked her up, asked her to strip naked in your car
Murdered victim Siam Lee.