Judgement is expected next week in the trial of two Soshanguve men who allegedly shot dead BMW manager Manie Maritz in Pretoria in July last year.
Maritz (48) was killed in the garden of his Constantia Park home in the early hours of the morning after he and his 15-year-old disabled daughter returned from a wedding.
Frans Mthabesitha (25) and Patric Sithole (35), both from Soshanguve, denied murdering Maritz, attempting to murder his daughter Serelda and robbing them of a handbag, cellphone, a pair of trousers and a gold chain.
A neighbour probably saved Serelda’s life when he fired shots, hitting one of the fleeing assailants, after seeing a man struggling with Serelda as her father lay lifeless on the ground.
Police officers arrested Mthabesitha and Sithole shortly after the incident where they were sitting in the grass next to a road about two kilometres from the murder scene.
Police Inspector Francois Erasmus testified that Sithole was bleeding from his left leg and they found cash, a cellphone which was later identified as Serelda’s, on Mthabesitha.
Police also found a pair of sneakers next to a firearm at the murder scene.
Mthabesitha, in his evidence, insisted that he had been walking in the street when the police arrested him.
He said he had nothing to do with the attack on Maritz and his daughter and police were lying when they said a cellphone had been found in his possession.
Sithole said he was attacked on the street that night by a group of four men, who robbed him and shot him in the leg. He also denied any involvement in the murder.
Acting Judge Vivian Tlhapi said she wanted to recall Maritz’s wife to the stand so that she could hand in Serelda’s cellphone as evidence before postponing the case for judgement.
The judge said she would be ready to pronounce judgement next week. – Sapa