The loud screams of a man who was murdered allegedly by his wife in their home before his mutilated body was transferred in a wheelie bin to a pig sty, were described in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The court heard that, prior to his murder, Philisile Dili, 56, was on the verge of divorcing his wife, Sisiwe Fiti, 55, and that the couple were separated.
On the day of the fatal attack on August 17 2013, Dili had arrived with his stepdaughter, Annelisa Hoboshe, at Fiti’s Kolisi Street, Motherwell, home, where they had both lived before he moved out, to drop off groceries.
Later that evening, Dili was killed in the house by an alleged hitman, known only as Sihle, who was allegedly contracted by Fiti.Sihle has since been on the run and the police are searching for him.
During her closing argument, advocate Nomaxabiso Jikela, for the state, painted a picture of a helpless Dili who was viciously assaulted allegedly by Fiti and Sihle while in the bedroom. Jikela urged the court to convict Fiti of murder, saying she had acted with common purpose.
“The accused’s daughter [Hoboshe] testified before this court how she heard the deceased calling out her name, saying ‘come and help me’.
“Annelisa got up and met her mother in the doorway. She informed her they were fighting.”
The screams had been as a result of Fiti having allegedly thrown boiling water on Dili, Jikela told the court.
“Immediately after this, Annelisa saw her mother talking on the phone. She was calling someone, saying ‘come now’.
“About 15 minutes later, the gate was opened.
“Annelisa saw her mother walk with a tall guy into the house.
“The deceased again started to scream for help. This went on for a long time – but help never came. Annelisa was scared,” Jikela said.
“The voice suddenly subsided. The daughter later noticed the shadow of her mother passing by her room, pushing a dustbin.”
The prosecutor also told how Hoboshe saw her mother with a mop and a bucket, apparently cleaning up blood, however she was unable to see clearly because it was dark.
Sibusiso Dyantjie testified that he was a neighbour of Fiti’s. He said that in about July 2013, Fiti had asked him to do some repairs in her house.
“Later that day, Fiti approached him with another request – to murder her husband,” Jikela said.“He was promised R2,000. When Dyantjie refused, the accused asked him whether he knew someone who could do the job on her behalf.
“In August, he heard the screams coming from Fiti’s house. He wanted to go and help, but he was stopped by his brother,” Jikela said.
Dili’s body was put in a municipal dustbin and later wheeled to a pig sty, where it was found a few days later.
Fiti has denied involvement in the murder.
The case continues.ALSO READ