Africa-Press – South-Africa. A man accused of raping and murdering a retired British teacher, is expected to know his fate when judgment is delivered in the Polokwane High Court, Limpopo, on Tuesday.
Andrea Imbayarwo – a Zimbabwean national – is alleged to have murdered Christine Robinson at her Raditau Lodge in Thabazimbi on 30 July 2014.
Imbayarwo, 32, also faces charges of housebreaking and contravention of the Immigration Act.
He was an employee at the lodge under the name of Andrew Ndlovu.
He allegedly went on the run after the crime for six years until his arrest in Crosby, Johannesburg, on 30 July 2020.
On Thursday, the State and defence lawyers submitted their closing arguments before Judge Marissa Naude-Odendaal.
State prosecutor, advocate George Sekhukhune, submitted that the evidence presented in court by various witnesses should be viewed in totality.
“All the evidence put together points to the accused as the perpetrator (of the crime). He tried to come with a version to fix a pinch on the shoes. It’s a fabricated version.
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“He shockingly failed to give the nature of the (sexual) relationship (with the deceased),” Sekhukhune said.
The accused, in his evidence-in-chief, said he had a “relationship” with Robinson, and had consensual intercourse a day before her lifeless body was found with a knife still stuck in her neck.
Sekhukhune also pointed to the evidence that the accused left early on the morning the body was discovered and never returned to Thabazimbi for six years.
“The accused knew Thabazimbi was a no-go area for him. That’s why he decided to hide in Johannesburg.
Sekhukhune said:
Defence lawyer, Desmond Nonyane, argued that the State had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He said the accused did not return to Thabazimbi because he had another offer in Johannesburg.
“If he had a better offer, why would he suppose to return to Thabazimbi? Surely, my Lord, everyone needs greener pastures,” Nonyane said.
Judgment will be handed down on Tuesday.
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