Van Rooyen murder trial still underway: A sneak peak into the court proceedings
Accused number four takes the stand to conclude his cross examination by Senior State Prosecutor, Adv André Ludick.
On the morning of February 21, while most of the community of AbaQulusi awaits the chaos of threatened mass protests, inside the courtroom, it is business as usual as the Van Rooyen farm attack trial proceeds, with accused number four taking the stand to conclude his cross examination by Senior State Prosecutor, Adv André Ludick.
Within minutes, the courtroom fills as the gallery files in to see the accused make his way to the witness stand, his appearance somewhat altered since we last attended the trial. Once clean-shaven, he now sports an intricately groomed goatee and sideburns as he is sworn in and steps up to face Ludick’s line of questioning.
The accused claims that police assaulted him and that charges were laid by him on the Sunday following his arrest. He did not inform the court of this charge during his first appearance.
ALSO READ: PART 1: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
Ludick puts forth that Sibiya and Ncele, two of the co accused, testified that accused number four “brought a bag of firearms to the Combi before heading to Swart Mfolozi…”
Zulu, the accused on the stand, responds, claiming that they are lying “to cover for those who were with them in the commission of the attack.”
Furthermore, he denies any knowledge of the firearms and alleges that he had nothing to do with the attack. Ludick then points out that, during the attack, Zulu took possession of the R1 rifle while accused number 1 took the AK47.
Zulu denies this and claims that he has “never even been to the place” in question. He also denies that he pointed the R1 at Karlien van Rooyen.
The interpreter listens intently to his next statement and translates, with clarity, how the accused declares that Karlien van Rooyen did not describe him in her testimony.
“I have a beard and a moustache,” he explains, “and sideburns. I also have visible scars that she did not name,” he adds. “It could not have been me that she was describing…”
Ludick brings up the testimony of Investigating Officer on the case, Captain Attie Engelbrecht, which states that the firearms were recovered near the home of the accused. Zulu recalls Engelbrecht’s testimony to this effect but maintains that he knows nothing of it.
Photos are presented to the court of the firearms, as well as unfired ammunition found in yoghurt and Vaseline containers, in question and Zulu maintains that he has no knowledge of any of this, even as it comes to light that the person who reported the firearms is the accused’s brother, who appears in some of the photos.
“It looks like my brother,” says the accused. “But the picture is not very clear…”
“I never saw any firearms at my home at all,” he maintains.
At 10:15am, the court adjourns for a short break after the accused declares that he could not have been involved in the attack as he was quite certainly at home when it took place… due to the conditions of his parole…
Ten minutes later, court is back in session and Zulu is reminded that he is still under oath.
At this point, the accused reveals that he has no idea why his co accused, Sibiya and Ncele, would accuse him and maintains adamant that they are “protecting the perpetrators of this crime…”
“We know that the attack at Swart Mfolozi took place,” states Ludick firmly. “We know that two people died and one was seriously injured…”
“Yes,” responds the accused. “I heard in court. I am disputing that I was involved,” he adds. “I cannot speak for the others…”
Zulu, who has been resolute in his denial of any knowledge as to why his co-accused would implicate him in the attack on the Van Rooyen farm, then reveals that Sibiya’s claims that he was involved are due to a conflict that he had with one of the families linked to Sibiya. He reports that he was told by the other prisoners that Sibiya had said that he [Zulu] was “lucky to be alive” as Sibiya intended to shoot and kill him… Zulu then cites revenge as Sibiya’s motive for implicating him.
“Why would Ncele want to implicate you?” asks Adv Ludick.
“He was used by the Investigating Officer,” claims Zulu. “He doesn’t know me…”
Throughout the cross examination, Zulu maintains that he knows nothing of the attack and denies his involvement. He claims that all of the evidence was fabricated and all who identified him to the court, including Karlien van Rooyen, are lying to the court.
“She described the person who robbed her,” he acknowledges. “It was not me she described. I don’t know if she was instructed to say that,” he adds. “But she was describing someone else, not me. I’ve never even been to the place where this crime took place… I’ve never involved myself with those people who were involved in this criminal activity.”
Ludick describes the accused as being “intimately involved in the planning and prosecution of this attack,” to which Zulu responds, “No, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Zulu returns to the dock, alongside his remaining co-accused, and his attorney, Rinesh Sivnarain, presents evidence that the assault charge was laid by Zulu. The documentation is accepted as evidence and court adjourns for tea at 11am.
