A man accused of murdering 13 women and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields was severely assaulted by police, the Scottburgh High Court heard on Monday.
Thozamile Taki (36) is accused of murdering 13 women in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape in 2007 and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields and tea plantations. He also faces 13 counts of armed robbery.
”My client will tell this court that he was severely beaten by the police when he was arrested. He was in pains during the identification parade,” said Taki’s lawyer Thulani Shange.
Shange was speaking during cross-examination of Inspector Edward Mzinyane.
Taki’s co-accused, Hlengiwe Nene, is charged as an accessory to the 13 counts of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The State alleges that Taki promised his victims work in Umzinto.
The victims were told they would need R1 500 to pay for accommodation. They would depart their homes to meet someone and would not be reachable on their cellphones after that.
Their bodies would then be found decomposed in sugarcane fields in Umzinto or in tea plantations in the Eastern Cape.
Most of the victims’ cellphones were found in Taki’s house in Chatsworth or with someone with links to him at the time of his arrest.
Bank, welfare and clothing account cards belonging to some of the victims were also found in Taki’s house.
Taki and Nene have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The court was expected to call its sixth witness when it resumed from lunch on Monday afternoon.
The State has 103 witnesses. — Sapa