‘House of horror’ wife accused of infidelity
The wife implicated in the so-called house of horror case has been accused of infidelity and dishonesty. Her estranged husband’s advocate dissected her version of events during cross-examination in the North Gauteng High Court.
Advocate Aneke van Wyk questioned the mother about no less than five alleged relations she had with other men during her marriage with the co-accused. The woman, together with her husband, face 22 charges for crimes allegedly committed against their children.
She denied ever having been unfaithful to her husband, claiming he was with her every minute of every day. This comes despite specific questions and accusations by van Wyk. She did however admit to lying under oath and acknowledged that she had been dishonest in the past.
Van Wyk asked her about an incident where she passed her learner’s license test despite not being able to read and write. The mother replied from the witness stand that her husband bribed officials at the licensing department.
She explained she had a paper with the answers next to her question paper, which meant she only had to mark to corresponding answers. Van Wyk put to the accused that they paid a friend to write the test on her behalf. She told the court the two paid the exact same outfits and upon completion of the test, the woman followed the licensing official to complete the paperwork.
But the woman, who cannot be named to protect their children, claims this was the first instance. She testified she had to return after her first learner’s license expired. Van Wyk the put to her that she was dishonest on at least two occasions.
The accused earlier testified that she lied to, or withheld information from the court, on more than one occasion to protect her husband. Van Wyk raised a range of other discrepancies between the mother’s answers and her initial testimony and statement. To some of these questions the woman admitted that the information provided was false.
The cross-examination brought out mixed emotions in the father. He cried on two occasions, including when the estranged wife testified of the violence he endured growing up. She told the court that her husband’s mother committed suicide after she shot and wounded her own husband. But the man also found delight during the confusion around his co-accused’s testimony on more than one occasion.