While murder accused Wayne Russouw claimed to have nothing to do with the killing of a Port Elizabeth electrician, co-accused Ronald Swartz had no trouble pointing to him as the one who had allegedly beaten the elderly man with a bat.
Both men submitted affidavits to the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court when they appeared for their formal bail application on Thursday.
While Russouw, 31, in his affidavit, denied any involvement in the July 17 murder of 70 year-old Petrus Scholtz, Swartz, 24, said it was Russouw who had bludgeoned the electrician to death with a baseball bat.In his statement, read out by his defence advocate Mxolisi Moolman, Russouw – the father of a five-year-old boy – said he intended pleading not guilty and denied any involvement in the murder.
Russouw did, however, admit he had driven his sister, Chantell, 35, to Cash Crusaders in Scholtz’s bakkie and that he knew his mother, Christine, 55, had sold the bakkie to an alleged chop-shop in North End.
Chantell and Christine abandoned their bail applications on Tuesday.
All four have been charged with murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Swartz, in his affidavit, said it was Russouw who had assaulted Scholtz with the bat.
Russouw then allegedly asked Swartz to help him put Scholtz’s body in a freezer.
“Wayne phoned [Scholtz] and when he arrived Wayne assaulted him with a baseball bat,” Swartz said.
According to him, he had been approached by Russouw in Central on July 16 to work in his garden in Kabega Park.Swartz, who said he was at the Woltemade Street home until July 19, said Russouw had called Scholtz, claiming that there was a problem with a geyser.
After checking it, Scholtz informed Russouw there was nothing wrong with it and left.
Swartz said that the following day Russouw called Scholtz to collect his call-out fee and when he arrived at the house, Russouw allegedly killed him.
Swartz claimed he had gone to the Mount Road police station to report the murder, but police did not listen to him and accused him of being on drugs.
State prosecutor Rafiq Ahmed told the court the charges were schedule six offences because the murder was premeditated.
It is alleged Scholtz was lured to the Kabega Park home on July 17, where he was strangled and beaten, his hands and feet tied together, and clingwrap put around his head.
His body was found on July 20 dumped in Fairview.Swartz has previous convictions for house robbery, possession of drugs and robbery.
Russouw has two pending cases, for fraud and theft.
Magistrate Thuli Betela ordered that Swartz be moved to the North End Prison after he allegedly received death threats while at St Albans.
Betela told Swartz’s attorney, Thembelani Pityana, that if Swartz was not moved and something happened to him, he should “sue them”.
Swartz and Russouw will appear in court again on August 23. Chantell and Christine will appear on August 28.