Alleged poacher says he was tricked
His testimony was a clever ploy to explain his presence in the park with a horn in his possession.
MBOMBELA – A man accused of murder and rhino poaching stated in court that he had been duped into performing these crimes.
This came to light in the Regional Court on Tuesday when Mr Mandla Chauke (39) appeared on various charges.
He was accused of the murder of Samson Msimango who was shot by rangers in the Kruger Park National (KNP) on April 23, 2011.
Chauke testified in his defence that he had been tricked by Msimango and another suspect only known as “Mnaka”.
He said Msimango went to his house for help with loading herbs for muti purposes. He then changed his statement saying the latter had only left a message at his house to meet him.
Chauke then said they drove around in a Mazda to a few open places near the Kruger and jumped two fences. He said he then only realised that he was in the park. When he objected, the men took his firearm and forced him to help them with the poaching. He said they had walked the whole day and night without food or water.
In the closing argument, state prosecutor Adv Isabet Erwee said that night the rangers had come across the three men in the bush, and could hear that they were arguing about not having enough ammunition.
The rangers then followed the suspects to where they could hear the dying breath of a cow and her calf nearby. They knew that the men had run out of ammunition and were waiting for the animals to die. The body of a bull was later found nearby with his horn hacked off.
The rangers sprang into action and a gunfight ensued. Msimango dropped his empty rifle and went for his handgun, when a ranger fired shots and he was killed. Chauke took a shot to the shoulder but ran away. He was caught about 200 metres from the scene. Mnaka managed to evade capture.
According to Erwee, the accused was found with a horn in a rucksack on his back.
The gun he claimed had been taken from him by the other suspects did not match the one for which he had had a permit.
She also stated that Chauke walked into the hospital accompanied by a policewoman and never told anyone he had been forced to commit these acts.
She said his testimony was a clever ploy to explain his presence in the park with a horn in his possession.
The trial has closed for judgement which will be heard on July 22.
