Stanmore 'ritual killer' claims police tortured him

THE trial of three men who allegedly killed four women and a baby for ritual purposes in Stanmore, near Gwanda, resumed on Wednesday at the High Court with one of the alleged murderers testifying.

Mncedisi Ndlovu, 18, Nhlanhla Sibanda, 23, and Bhekimpilo Mthethwa, 41, all pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder before Justice Martin Makonese at the Bulawayo High Court.

The State alleges that on separate occasions between November and December in 2010, the trio waylaid Mthombani Moyo, 81, Senzokuhle Moyo, 44, Melgina Mahlangu, 62, and Nothando Siziba, 20, as well as her seven-month-old baby as they disembarked from public transport vehicles at Stanmore bus station, before taking them to a nearby bush where they robbed and then killed them.
They allegedly mutilated their bodies and buried them in shallow graves or dumped them in the bush.

During cross examination yesterday, Ndlovu alleged that he admitted committing the crime under duress as he was tortured.

"From the time we were arrested on December 16 at Gwanda police station, they constantly assaulted us up to the 22nd of December.

They didn't bother asking for a statement from me," he said.
"They assaulted me and then they would eventually say talk after the assault, forcing me to admit to the crimes. On the day that I signed a statement, one of them twisted my arm while the other held my hand and forced me to sign the statement with the other," he claimed. Ndlovu also claimed that police authorised their alleged victims' relatives to assault them while in detention.

"While we were held up at the station, relatives of the four women came and the police gave them baton sticks and they severely assaulted us for quite some time," said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu, a Grade 6 dropout, told the court that when police took them for indications, they were forced to incriminate themselves.

He denied knowing Sibanda and Mthethwa in connection with the crime.But his testimony contradicted that of 14 other witnesses who included his father.

The state led by Whisper Mabhaudi quizzed him, if he was labelling his father, Shadreck, and his girlfriend, Sibusisiwe Mabhena, liars as they had testified that he had admitted committing the crimes.

"My father had been severely intimidated by the police and the way he was in court is not how he is in real life, he was scared to talk and I was never given a chance to cross examine him," he said in reply.

"As for Mabhena, we were not in talking terms, we were on separation and I never gave her anything during that period."

On Tuesday, one of the investigating officers, Aaron Kadzai, was cross-examined by defence lawyers and denied allegations that the trio had been assaulted while in police custody.

The trio are being represented by pro deo lawyers, Tanaka Mugari for Ndlovu, Ndabezinhle Mazibuko for Sibanda and Nathaniel Tawanda Mashayamombe for Mthethwa.

The trial continues during the next term of the High Court.