The man accused of the rape and murder of teacher Kirsten Kluyts has adamantly denied any plans to kill on the fateful day, questioning the motive behind such an act and emphasizing its lack of benefit to him. Kluyts was tragically attacked during an organized run at George Lea Park in Sandton in October, leading to the subsequent arrest of a 21-year-old student.
The ongoing bail application entered a new phase last week, with the accused taking the stand to support his release. The proceedings continued on Monday, with the accused maintaining his position in court.
The accused faces charges of premeditated murder, and during Monday’s questioning by his advocate, Itumeleng Masako, he consistently denied any intention to cause harm on the day of the incident. According to his version of events, he had attended a party in Alexandra the night before and took a taxi back to his student residence the next morning. Claiming to have fallen asleep and missed his stop, he walked part of the way, stopping at a nearby restaurant.
Despite being repeatedly asked if he had any intention to kill anyone during these events, the accused firmly denied such allegations. He expressed disbelief that someone could go from attending a party and working on an assignment to contemplating murder, stating, “You wouldn’t be right in your mind if that [was] how you [thought].” He further questioned the logic behind such a violent act, asking, “How would that benefit him?”
The accused’s testimony remains a focal point in the court proceedings, shedding light on his version of events leading up to the tragic incident and challenging the prosecution’s case against him.
