Court hears details of the two versions of Tshegofatso Pule death
On day four of the murder trial of Ntuthuko Shoba the court heard two detailed versions of death of his pregnant girlfriend Tshegofatso Pule.
Her killer, Muzikayise Malepane, continued his testimony against Shoba.
The convicted murderer, who claims he was hired by Shoba to kill Pule in order to conceal the pregnancy from his wife, had a tough day on the stand.
The defence questioned him about the two different statements he has given, the first one to police when he was arrested where he said he lied, and the second one he made when he took the plead bargain and turned state witness.
Asked why he decided to change his statement, Malepane first said among several reasons that his lawyers told him the truth would help the family get closure and his sentence will not be harsh.
He said they didn’t tell him what details in the docket could discredit his version.
Later after more questioning, he said he was told his first version didn’t make sense as he said Shoba stabbed Pule. However, her injuries were consistent with a gunshot wound, which he admits in the second version.
Malepane was also questioned for the hour and a half he could not account for in his second version after he says he killed Pule.
At first he said he cannot remember much because after shooting her he was traumatised.
Shoba’s lawyer asked him where exactly he was and who he was with if he was with anyone.
He later said he was actually driving around with Pule’s body trying to look for a spot where he can hang her, he said he eventually gave up and did it 800 meters from where he stays.
He is expected to continue his testimony on Friday.
