Murder accused Andrew Jordaan on Wednesday closed his case without calling any further witnesses to support his claims of innocence in the murder of seven-year-old Sheldean Human.
This was after the defence counsel earlier indicated that Jordaan wanted to call a further witness, but closed his case without further explanation.
Acting Judge Chris Eksteen adjourned the trial to Thursday for final argument in the case. He indicated he hoped to give judgement by Tuesday next week.
The judge specifically asked counsel for the state and defence to present argument to him about the two rape charges against Jordaan, as well as the dagga-possession charge.
Jordaan has pleaded not guilty to abducting, murdering and raping Human in February last year.
The girl’s decomposed body was found in a storm-water ditch in the veld behind the Pretoria fresh produce market 15 days after she disappeared.
According to evidence before the court, Jordaan was the last person to be seen with Sheldean.
Jordaan also denied guilt on charges that he had, over a period of several months, repeatedly raped and indecently assaulted another seven-year-old girl.
He said he had a very good relationship with the young girl and could not think of any reason why she would falsely accuse him of sexually molesting her.
He testified he had taken both girls to play in a park earlier on the day in question, but had afterwards taken them home and left them there. He claimed police had tortured him and forced him to confess to Sheldean’s murder and to point out a manhole in the veld near the place where the body was eventually found.
Jordaan could not think of any reason why police would single him out to pin Sheldean’s murder on.
Police detective Director Piet Byleveld testified that Jordaan had made a full and detailed confession to him about how he had murdered Sheldean, molested her and dumped her body in the manhole.
Investigating officer Marius van Aardt testified that Jordaan wept when he pointed out the manhole, but Jordaan said he cried because he ”felt sorry” for the murdered child.
Byleveld testified that police would not have found Sheldean’s body if it had not been for Jordaan’s cooperation. The body was discovered with the help of sniffer dogs shortly after Jordaan pointed out the manhole to police. — Sapa