I did not kill lover in a jealous rage – Muvhango

THE man accused of murdering his Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student girlfriend in 2011 denied using her laptop charger to strangle her to death in a jealous rage.

Tshepiso Sithole's lover and former teacher, Mutshutshu Muvhango, 31, is accused of murdering her and stealing her cellphones.

Muvhango, a married father of two, was visiting Tshepiso, 18, in Port Elizabeth at the time of her death in June 2011.

State advocate Mzwamadoda Mnyani told Muvhango that according to the evidence of fingerprint expert Warrant Officer Phillip Bekker the laptop charger found wrapped around Tshepiso's neck when her body was found only had fingerprints belonging to Muvhango.

"Warrant Officer Bekker said a solid smear was deposited as well as your fingerprints.

He said the smear, together with the prints were deposited in the same continuous event. He said the smear and prints were also deposited with extreme deposition pressure," Mnyani said.

He put it to Muvhango that because there were no other prints on the charger it was Muvhango who had used it to strangle Tshepiso to death.

Muvhango disagreed and said he had handled the charger on either June 18 or 19. He also said he had left it in the wall socket before leaving Tshepiso alive on June 19.

Mnyani said Tshepiso was found locked inside her room at her Summerstrand student residence where Muvhango had visited her. The keys to her flat had not been found.

"I put it to you that after you strangled the deceased you took the keys to lock the door and you left with her cellphones," he said.

Muvhango denied this and said he had taken the cellphones as they had been giving problems and he wanted to get them repaired.

Mnyani said Muvhango had murdered Tshepiso because they had been having issues and he suspected she had another boyfriend.

"I did not have any issues with the deceased and the mention of other boyfriends I am hearing for the first time in this court," Muvhango said.

The trial was postponed to tomorrow for closing arguments. - Lee-Anne Butler