�I fought with a bloody Masilo�
Sharon Mathala | Friday May 30, 2014 16:53
Testifying at the Village Magistrate Court yesterday, the alleged victim’s brother – whom Mmegi will not name to protect his sister’s identity – said he returned home to his Phase IV house for lunch and was confronted by Masilo in a blood-spattered house.
The State says Masilo, a former Botho College student, raped and robbed the woman on August 9, 2012 in Phase IV, inflicting grievous bodily harm in the process.
“When I entered the house there was no movement or noise to show that there was anyone present, but I noticed bloodstains on the floor and on the living room walls,” the 46-year-old brother testified. “When I dashed into the corridor leading to the bedrooms in search of my people, I was met by a bloody young man carrying a bloodstained knife.
“I quickly grabbed him by the wrists and asked him what he was doing in my house, what he had done and where my people were? “Instead of answering me, he moved his mouth in shock that he was caught.” The brother told the court that he fought with Masilo for about five minutes before the suspect bolted into the kitchen and blocked the door by pushing a fridge.
“I then went to the living room door to call for help from the neighbours and to call the police,” the brother said.
“At this point my wife and I thought the assailant was trapped in the kitchen because we usually keep the outside door locked, but he escaped before the armed response security arrived.” A hushed courtroom then heard how the alleged victim’s brother proceeded to search for his family members inside the house. At the time of the alleged attack, only his sister was expected in the house.
“My wife and I noticed pools of blood on the corridor floor and bloodstains on the walls. Our bedroom door was open but my sister’s room was locked with the key hanging in the lock,” the brother said, with anger rising in his voice. “As I approached my sister’s room I could hear her whispering voice trying to call me for help inside the room. “I opened the door and found her lying in a pool of blood and at that moment, my three-year-old son was with me. She was completely naked and was fighting for her life.”
The brother told the court that they transported his sister to Julia Molefe Clinic in Block 9, from where she was transferred to Princess Marina Hospital.
He added that in October, police called him to an identification parade, where he was asked whether his sister’s assailant fit the description of five men on parade.
“All five men that the police had brought were not the person that I fought with,” the brother said. “I was sure of the man I fought with.
“He was brownish in complexion almost going to that of a coloured person and he was physically fit.”
The brother said some time in November, he spotted various media reports about a young man who had allegedly raped and killed a student in Phase IV. “I saw the face of this young man in one of the local newspapers, and his face matched that of our assailant,” the brother told the court. “I told the Mogoditshane police officer who was dealing with our matter that the young man in the newspaper was the man who attacked my sister.”
Chief Magistrate Lenah Mokibe-Oahile had to cool emotions in the courtroom after Masilo’s lawyer, Kgosietsile Ngakayagae and the brother clashed over how the brother had known that Masilo was the assailant.
Ngakayagae will lead cross-examination of the brother this morning (Friday). Kutlo Tsekane represents the State. The brother’s testimony will be followed by a medical doctor who attended to the alleged rape victim at Princess Marina. The State will also call the investigating officer from Mogoditshane Police Station as its final witness.