Judge believes ‘satanic’ murder accused
|Published
Harvey Isha, Robin Harwood, Linden Wagner and Courtney Daniels during their trial for the murder of teenager Kirsty Theologo. File picture: Dumisani Sibeko Harvey Isha, Robin Harwood, Linden Wagner and Courtney Daniels during their trial for the murder of teenager Kirsty Theologo. File picture: Dumisani Sibeko
Johannesburg - There was no evidence that Harvey Isha was aware of the plan to kill 18-year-old Kirsty Theologo, Judge Geraldine Borchers said in delivering her verdict in the trial of her alleged killers on Thursday.
Isha is on trial in the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, with Linden Wagner, Courtney Daniels, and Robin Harwood.
They are accused of murder and attempted murder.
Theologo died of her injuries in hospital a week after an apparent Satanic ritual on a hill in Linmeyer, Johannesburg, in October 2011. Her 14-year-old friend was assaulted but survived the attack.
Borchers started delivering her verdict on Thursday.
“It's possible that he (Isha) did not know of the intention to murder and sacrifice (Theologo),” said Borchers.
In his testimony, Wagner said he struck Theologo on the head with a rock, doused her with petrol and set her alight, before attacking her friend.
Wagner told the court the attack was part of a soul-selling ritual through which he hoped to gain power. Isha testified that he watched the attack from behind a tree, and that he was scared to leave the group.
The next day he told the others he was fetching his passport to flee to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Isha is a refugee from the DRC, and does not own a passport.
A woman, who is believed to be a close friend of his, who was sitting in the public gallery, sighed and said: “Thank God,” when Borchers said she found Isha's testimony believable.
The trial continues.
Sapa