Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Limpopo High Court in Polokwane is expected to deliver a ruling on Thursday in a trial-within-a-trial over the admissibility of the confession by an alleged serial killer.
The accused, Prince Willard Themba Dube, made the confession before a magistrate after his arrest in November 2021.
Dube, 37, is standing trial for the murder of seven women whose bodies were found at different locations around Polokwane between August and October 2021.
He also faces seven charges of kidnapping, several counts of rape, and contravention of the Immigration Act, as he was in the country illegally.
On Tuesday, defence lawyer Desmond Nonyane made submissions before Judge Gerrit Muller for the accused’s confession to be rendered inadmissible.
Nonyane said the constitutional rights of the accused were violated because he was not informed of his rights when making a confession.
He claimed the accused was also assaulted by some police officers on the investigating team.
State prosecutor, Calvin Chauke, answering a question from the judge, said if the rights of the accused were explained to him once, there was no need to repeat them every time he was spoken to.
Chauke described the accused as a “self-confessed liar”.
He said the accused lied about the magistrate who took down the confession, and also lied about him being assaulted and falling on broken glass.
The prosecutor said the injuries Dube sustained were as a result of being assaulted by members of the public before his arrest on a charge of being in possession of a stolen cellphone.
Dube was in a minibus taxi when he was identified by another passenger as being wanted in connection with the murders of the seven women.
“The accused is facing serious charges. The fact that the accused says his rights were violated by [police] officers is outweighed by the seriousness of the charges. The prospect of imprisonment is a good [reason] for the accused to lie,” Chauke said.
Dube, who is a Zimbabwean national, was initially arrested for being in possession of a stolen cellphone, which was later linked to a woman who was reported missing and found murdered.
He is alleged to have killed Sarah Mothiba, 42; Moleboheng Mothibeli, 34; Eva Khomotso Makhura, 41; Sanah Senyatsi, 34; Andrea Cholo, 25; Jane Letsoalo, 42; and Chisimango Gumbo, 48.
It is alleged he lured them with a promise of jobs.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
