/ 13 March 2009

Kunene unsure why conspirators faltered

Murder accused, controversial IT consultant Muzi Kunene, on Friday agreed with the state that it was strange that conspirators against him had neglected to plant ”deadly” evidence to frame him.

State advocate Amanda Bester was cross-examining Kunene on an affidavit of a dead policeman, Superintendent Zethembe Chonco, which was handed in as part of his defence.

The document implicates among others the Presidency in a ”conspiracy”.

Earlier, Bester indicated that the state was of the opinion that Kunene had in fact written the affidavit and not Chonco.

Kunene, 45, of Ballito, and Mumukeleni Khoza, 26, and Mphakamiseni Khumalo, 21, both of Msinga near Greytown, are accused of kidnapping and murdering Ballito estate agent Lynne Hume in October 2007.

Chonco, who was stationed at the Kranskop police station in KwaZulu-Natal, was killed in a taxi violence-related incident in the province last year.

The state alleges Hume, 47, was driven to a dirt road near Kestell in the eastern Free State and shot in the passenger seat of her white Volvo on October 23, 2007.

The vehicle was then set alight.

Kunene claims in defence that Hume was murdered as part of the conspiracy against him, which was initiated at the beginning of the African National Congress (ANC) hoax email case.

Kunene was one of three men accused and acquitted in the email case, in which ANC members were alleged to have conspired against then ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma.

On Friday, Bester said she found it strange that cellphones Chonco apparently seized from Kunene in an effort to frame him, were not used to place Kunene at the murder scene near Kestell.

This after Chonco allegedly instructed his co-conspirators to leave a paper trail to Kunene. ”That would have been much more deadly evidence against you,” Bester said.

She said Chonco allegedly also confiscated Kunene’s 7.65 pistol, but 9mm pistol shells were found at Hume’s murder scene.

Kunene said he also found the fact strange as why they (co-conspirators) had not followed instructions.

The state also put it to Kunene that it was not clear why the conspirators had used his son and another state witness to deposit fraudulent cheques, while they had a look-alike for Kunene at hand.

”Why did they not use the double, they had him,” said Bester, adding it would have been ”better evidence” against Kunene.

The former pastor told the court the conspirators should be in a better position to answer the court.

Chonco, in the affidavit, describes in detail how Hume’s murder was planned and executed as well as how the former policeman plotted to frame Kunene for the murder.

It allegedly also involved a former Koevoet operative from Namibia, as a look-alike for Kunene, and how the man called Blessing Hamutenya was trained to act as Kunene.

Hamutenya even went for plastic surgery in China Town in Johannesburg to improve his resemblance to Kunene.

Bester finished the state’s cross-examination on Friday.

Kunene was expected to call a number of witnesses to testify on Monday.

The case continues. — Sapa