Johan Kotze 'Modimolle Monster' Trial [UPDATE: Guilty!]

Kotze planned murder, rape : State

Johan Kotze planned the torture and gang rape of his wife and the murder of her son down to the last detail, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Cornelia Harmzen put it to one of Ina Bonnette's alleged rapists, Andries Sithole, that Kotze would not have gone to the trouble of planning the crime and then getting unwilling rapists to help him.

Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Sello Mphaka have claimed they pretended to rape Bonnette because Kotze threatened them with a firearm.

Harmzen put it to Sithole that there was no DNA evidence, and the rapists wore pantyhose over their heads so the victim would not recognise them.

In addition, her attackers deliberately had no information about each other on their cellphones, so the police could not trace them.

"In the cupboard, the torture instruments used for the mutilation lay ready. Ropes were already tied to the bed and burglar bars. All of this is evidence of planning.

"It would never have happened if the three of you didn't co-operate with Kotze and did not plan and decide together to rape her.

"For you, it was a win-win situation. You could have sex and get paid for it. You raped her first while she lay there bleeding. You didn't only stand and watch the other two. You held her down while Mphaka was raping her," she said.

Harmzen put it to Sithole that he had lied about Kotze threatening him and the others with a revolver, as Bonnette said she had not seen a revolver. She had testified only about a rifle which was pointed at her.

Bonnette's evidence was supported by the fact that the rifle found at the scene had been used to murder her 19-year-old son Conrad, Harmzen said.

Sithole said that if Kotze had planned anything, he had done so alone.

He said if he had seen a rifle, he and the others would have overpowered Kotze, but he did want to take a chance while Kotze had a revolver "because he could not play with his life".

Before taking the stand, Sithole spoke to Mohlane.

Mohlane later told the court Sithole had told him and Mphaka not to testify, but that he had not taken this seriously.

The trial continues.


Source : Sapa /str/th/clh/rod
Date : 26 Jun 2013 14:53
 
Attack was planned: Co-Accused

Johan Kotze and Andries Sithole had planned the "surprise" gang rape of Kotze's wife Ina Bonnette, one of the alleged rapists testified in the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Kotze, Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Sello Mphaka are on trial for allegedly kidnapping, raping and assaulting Bonnette and murdering her 19-year-old son, Conrad, in Modimolle on January 3 last year.

Kotze claimed he could not be held accountable for his actions. The other three claimed they acted under duress and pretended to rape Bonnette.

Mohlane testified he met Sithole the day before the crime and accompanied him and Mphaka to Kotze's Modimolle house, under the impression that they had to wash a caravan.

After their arrival, they removed and replanted trees while waiting for Kotze's wife to arrive. Later that afternoon, Kotze called them inside, where Sithole told them their job was to have sex with Kotze's wife.

"He said it would be a surprise for Kotze's wife. The surprise was that she would have sex with three black men. Kotze and his wife agreed that it would happen and his wife was in a hurry to see it happen.

"Andries [Sithole] said the woman would pretend not to know what was happening. He said she had to be tied up and gagged... She was noisy during sex and they didn't want the neighbours to hear.

"He told us to put pantyhose over our heads so that she would not see our faces. Mphaka and I said we would not do such a thing. Kotze must pay us. Then we will go," he said.

Kotze became angry when they refused to co-operate, pointed a firearm at them, and told them to do as he said.

He told Mohlane and Mphaka to stay in the cupboard while Sithole hid behind the door. Mohlane waited in the cupboard until the heard a woman screaming.

When they came out, they saw a naked Bonnette tied to the bed with Sithole taping her mouth shut.

"Andries took off his pants and slept with the woman while Kotze stood next to them. Kotze told us to get ready to sleep with that woman. Mphaka climbed on her. He was there for about two minutes before Kotze told him to get off and gestured that I must get on.

"I was very frightened and could not get an erection, so I pretended to pull down my zip and lay on top of her.

"Kotze took me off his wife and told me and Mphaka to go and wait in the kitchen. He said he was waiting for someone and he would let us go when that person arrived.

"We asked Andries who Kotze was waiting for. He said it was Mrs Bonnette's child. They were busy phoning him. Andries said Kotze wanted to hit the child," Mohlane said.

After fleeing from the scene, Mohlane and Mphaka asked Sithole why he had taken them there "to do such things".

"He said it was not our problem. It was that man and his wife's problem. Those people are not fighting any more. They were talking nicely when we left.

"I said he knew what was going to happen at Kotze's house... He did not have to be told what to do. He already knew and gave us instructions."

The trial continues on Thursday.


Source : Sapa /str/th/jk/rod
Date : 26 Jun 2013 16:17
 
alleged rapist did not call cop Uncle

One of Ina Bonnette's alleged rapists had an uncle in the police, but never thought of contacting him after being "forced" to "simulate" raping Bonnette, he told the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday.

Pieta Mohlake testified he was too afraid of Bonnette's husband, Johan Kotze, to resist because Kotze had a firearm.

He admitted he never saw Kotze's gun after Bonnette entered the room, where she was tortured and gang raped before being forced to listen to her son Conrad, 19, being shot dead.

Kotze, Mohlake, Andries Sithole and Sello Mphaka have denied guilt to charges of kidnapping, raping and attempting to murder Bonnette, and murdering her son on January 3, 2012, in Kotze's Modimolle home.

Although Bonnette testified that Mohlake, Sithole and Mphaka raped her, Mohlake said this would have been impossible because he could not get an erection.

Bonnette testified that although Mohlake had looked slightly scared and had problems getting an erection, she never had the impression he was an unwilling participant.

Mohlake said he was definitely not willing, and raping Bonnette would have been "impossible" because he never had an erection and was "tired and weak".

He said he did not think of phoning his uncle or police, not even after hearing that Conrad had been killed, because he was "surprised" about what had happened.

Although Mohlake repeatedly testified that Sithole was "against" him and had planned the crime with Kotze, he said he had no problems with Sithole.

"I have forgiven him already for taking us to that place," he said.

To a question by Judge Bert Bam on why they had not defended themselves against Kotze when he wanted them to do "this ugly thing", Mohlake said they were afraid of Kotze's firearm.


Source : Sapa /str/th/jk/ks/rod
Date : 27 Jun 2013 16:40
 
The trial of the so-called "Modimolle Monster" Johan Kotze and his three co-accused was postponed by the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.

The trial was postponed to Monday because one of the lawyers in the case was ill.

Kotze is accused of mutilating and orchestrating the gang-rape of his ex-wife Ina Bonnette, and of murdering his stepson Conrad, 19, on January 3, 2012.

Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake, and Sello Mphaka are accused of kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette.

All four have pleaded not guilty.


Source : Sapa /str/fg/clh/jk
Date : 28 Jun 2013 09:23
 
An alleged rapist in the "Modimolle monster" trial did not go to the police because he was afraid he would be framed, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Monday.

Sello Mphaka believed he would be framed for the mutilation of Johan Kotze's wife, Ina Bonnette, and the murder of his stepson, Conrad.

Mphaka reiterated his evidence -- that he had not raped Bonnette because he could not get an erection, never saw Kotze torturing her and had nothing to do with her son's murder.

"The woman knows very well that I did not rape her... He [Kotze] was there on January 3, but I did not rape her," he said.

According to Mphaka, Kotze was a "good man" earlier in the day but became angry.

The court heard that Kotze threatened to kill his co-accused when Mphaka and Pieta Mohlake refused to co-operate with his plan for them to have sex with his wife.

"It surprised and frightened me. He had a different face. I don't know how to explain it," said Mphaka.

Kotze, Andries Sithole, Mohlake and Mphaka all denied guilt to charges of kidnapping, raping and attempting to murder Bonnette and murdering her 19-year-old son, in Kotze's Modimolle home on January 3, 2012.

During cross-examination, Mphaka testified that he and Mohlake initially wanted to go to the police, but Sithole had told them Kotze was rich and well-known in the area, knew the police and would blame them.

"He said it had nothing to do with us. It was something between the lovers [Kotze and Bonnette]," he said.

Mphaka said he had an argument with Sithole, who he suspected of working with Kotze and being aware of the plan to attack Bonnette.

Asked repeatedly why he did not go to the police, Mphaka gave a number of reasons, including that he was afraid of Kotze and the police.

Mphaka said he went to Kotze's house to work and not to steal or rape. He left without any payment for the work he did and without taking anything from Kotze's house.

Kotze's advocate, Piet Greyling, questioned Mphaka about discrepancies in his evidence and accused him of fabricating his version of events.

The trial continues.


Source : Sapa /str/ma/ks/th
Date : 01 Jul 2013 15:26
 
The trial of the so-called "Modimolle Monster" Johan Kotze and his three co-accused in the High Court in Pretoria continues on Friday.

In closing arguments on Thursday, the State argued that Kotze be convicted of attempting to murder his ex-wife Ina Bonnette because one of the men he allegedly ordered to rape her was infected with HIV.

Kotze, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake, and Sello Mphaka have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, assaulting, raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette, and murdering her 19-year-old son Conrad in Kotze's home in Modimolle on January 3, 2012.

At the time, Bonnette was married to Kotze, but lived in her own flat.

Kotze had hired the three to do work at his home.

In his closing arguments on Thursday, Jan van Rooyen, for Sithole, argued that the summary of facts in the case was a "wish list" which the State wanted to, but could not prove.

He dismissed the State's argument that Kotze and the other three were guilty of attempting to murder Bonnette because Sithole was infected with HIV.

"He was only tested for HIV after the incident and then found out he had tested positive."

Piet Greyling, for Kotze, argued that he be acquitted as he was dissociated when he allegedly attacked Bonnette and her son.


Source : Sapa /mr/clh
Date : 12 Jul 2013 02:02
 
Judge Starts giving Summary - Judgement Expected today

High Court in Pretoria Acting Judge Bert Bam began his judgment on Monday in the trial of so-called "Modimolle Monster" Johan Kotze and his co-accused with a summary of the evidence.

He read out the seven charges against the four accused. These include murder, kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder.

He then started summing up the State's evidence. He briefly ran through the testimony of Kotze's ex-wife Ina Bonnette.

Kotze, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Sello Mphaka are on trial for allegedly murdering Kotze's stepson Conrad Bonnette, 19, and kidnapping, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette in his Modimolle, Limpopo, home on January 3, 2012.

Kotze has denied guilt, claiming he could not be held accountable for his actions that day.

Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka have claimed that Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate. They said they pretended to rape Bonnette because they could not get erections.

On Monday, the testimony of police cellphone expert Francois Moller was also dealt with. Moller testified about the contact between Kotze and his co-accused before and after the crimes.

There were 48 calls from Kotze to one of his co-accused between December and January 3. Bam also went over the defence's case.

During his testimony, Kotze told the court that he found Bonnette in a room in his house. He said his three co-accused were attacking her.

"There was a big mess," Kotze testified. He said he tried to help Bonnette, but he was confused and at stages left the room.

While Bam read the summary of Kotze's testimony, Bonnette, who was accompanied by friends, often shook her head.


Source : Sapa /mv/tk/clh/th
Date : 15 Jul 2013 10:32
 
BREAKING NEWS: Johan Kotze (aka the Modimolle Monster) and all his accomplices found guilty of gang rape.

BREAKING NEWS: Johan Kotze (aka the Modimolle Monster) and Andries Sithole have been found guilty of murdering Ina Bonnette's son Conrad.
 
Bonnette a 'Believable Witness' : Judge

The so-called "Modimolle Monster" Johan Kotze's ex-wife Ina Bonnette is a believable witness, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Monday.

"It wouldn't have been strange if she was at times unsure of events," acting Judge Bert Bam said in his judgment.

Kotze, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane, and Sello Mphaka are on trial for allegedly murdering Kotze's stepson Conrad Bonnette, 19, and kidnapping, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Ina Bonnette in Kotze's Modimolle, Limpopo, home on January 3, 2012.

Kotze has denied guilt, and has claimed he cannot be held accountable for his actions that day.

Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka claimed Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.

Bam said Bonnette was cross-examined by three experienced attorneys. He said this must have been traumatic and painful for her.

"She is just a human being. Any person makes mistakes," Bam said.

He said it was not uncommon for a witness, who was as emotional as Bonnette, to be unsure at times. He said she was not a perfect witness, and that it was not realistic to think such a person existed.

"There was a sound of truth [to her testimony]."

One of many examples of this was her testifying that, after the rape, she pleaded with her eyes for Kotze's three co-accused to help her.

"It is unlikely that any witness would think of something like that," said Bam.


Source : Sapa /mv/jk/th/clh
Date : 15 Jul 2013 13:38 OrigID : LP133510
 
Modimolle Monster Convicted

So-called "Modimolle Monster" Johan Kotze was found guilty of murder by the High Court in Pretoria on Monday.

Judge Bert Bam found him and one of his co-accused, Andries Sithole, guilty of killing Kotze's ex-wife Ina Bonnette's son.

Kotze, Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Sello Mphaka are on trial for allegedly murdering Kotze's stepson Conrad Bonnette, 19, and kidnapping, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Ina Bonnette in his Modimolle, Limpopo, home on January 3, 2012.

Kotze denied guilt, claiming he could not be held accountable for his actions that day.

Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka claimed Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.


Source : Sapa /mv/hdw/th
Date : 15 Jul 2013 13:41
 
Good. Let him rot in prison. I hope he catches a slow puncture.
 
Wait theres one part I missed,the three co accused said they only pretended to rape her but did not,I'm assuming she testified that they had in fact raped her and so they basically lied?

Have I missed this part somewhere or did non of the articles give her testimony?
 
State Calls for Life Sentence

The State urged the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday to impose life sentences on the so-called "Modimolle Monster" Johan Kotze and his co-accused.

"Concerning accused one and two [Kotze and Andries Sithole] they face a life-long sentence due to the rape and murder charges, while three and four [Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka] face a life-long sentence based only on the rape charges," prosecutor Retha Meintjes said.

Judge Bert Bam found Kotze and Sithole guilty on Monday of killing Kotze's ex-wife Ina Bonnette's son Conrad Bonnette, 19.

Their co-accused were acquitted on the murder charge. However each of the four was convicted of kidnapping, and of four charges relating to the rape of Bonnette.

"It is obvious that all four are guilty of it," said Bam.

In addition, Kotze and his co-accused were found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Ina Bonnette was attacked and tortured in Kotze's Modimolle home on January 3, 2012. Her son was shot and killed in the house on the same day.

Arguing in aggravation of sentence on Tuesday Meintjes made reference to a victim impact report on Bonnette and her daughter Angelique. According to the report Bonnette suffered from flashbacks and nightmares after the attack, and her daughter also suffered emotionally.

"Dad and I don't talk about my brother," she was quoted as saying in the report.

Meintjes said the accused had shown no signs of remorse.

She said Kotze cried during his testimony because of self-pity. His co-accused participated for financial gain.

Bam asked if Mohlake and Mphaka deserved a lesser sentence because they were not involved in the planning of the crime. Meintjes said despite this they were active in attacking Bonnette in the house, therefore they did not deserve a lesser sentence.

"In that sense there is no room [for a lesser sentence]."

The defence for Kotze's three co-accused argued their clients should serve concurrent sentences. Jan van Rooyen and Francois van As said the crime was one "incident" and should be sentenced as such.

Piet Greyling, for Kotze, in arguing in mitigation of his client's sentence, pointed to his narcissistic personality disorder, depression, and obsessive behaviour.

"Some of his problems literally come from his childhood," he told the court.

Greyling said a clinical psychiatrist's report which found Kotze suffered from these problems should be taken into consideration.

"[The narcissism] influenced his relationship with Mrs Bonnette, also his behaviour towards Mrs Bonnette," he submitted.

Greyling said Kotze had been obsessed with Bonnette, and was crushed when she rejected him, especially because of his narcissism.

"In other words, he took it much worse."

Greyling said Kotze had seen this as the end of his life.

"I don't think there is any doubt that accused one was a manic depressive." He said Kotze had mentioned a suicide attempt in a diary he kept in the days before his arrest.

Greyling said there were also signs of remorse in the diary.

"The remorse speaks very clear from the diary he kept."

Bam asked if Kotze had shown remorse in court.

Greyling said Kotze was emotional during his testimony.

"It was truly an emotional testimony."

He asked the court to take into account that his client had lost everything, and asked for a 15-year sentence.

Bam postponed the matter to Wednesday 11.30am for sentencing.

When asked how he felt after court proceedings on Tuesday, Kotze said he would only fully comment after the sentencing.

"I don't want to sensationalise it," he said.


Source : Sapa /mv/jk/jje/th
Date : 16 Jul 2013 13:06
 
The High Court in Pretoria was packed on Wednesday morning for the sentencing of convicted murderer Johan Kotze, the so-called "Modimolle Monster", and four others.

Kotze's ex-wife Ina Bonnette sat in the second row, along with friends and family. They were all wearing purple flowers against rape and abuse of women.

Members of the African National Congress Women's League, as well as Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana, also attended.

On Tuesday, the State urged the court to impose life sentences on Kotze and his co-accused.

"Concerning accused one and two [Kotze and Andries Sithole] they face a life-long sentence due to the rape and murder charges, while three and four [Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka] face a life-long sentence based only on the rape charges," prosecutor Retha Meintjes said.

Judge Bert Bam found Kotze and Sithole guilty on Monday of killing Bonnette's son Conrad Bonnette, 19.

Their co-accused were acquitted on the murder charge. However, each of the four was convicted of kidnapping, and of four charges relating to the rape of Ina Bonnette.

"It is obvious that all four are guilty of it," said Bam.

In addition, Kotze and his co-accused were found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Ina Bonnette was attacked and tortured in Kotze's Modimolle home on January 3, 2012. Her son was shot and killed in the house on the same day.


Source : Sapa /mv/hdw/jk/rod
Date : 17 Jul 2013 12:24
 
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