Closing arguments in the trial of a Zimbabwean national accused of kidnapping and raping his former girlfriend after killing her lover with an iron rod took a twist on Friday when the defence claimed that DNA evidence linking the man to the rape should be disregarded and that the victim lied during her testimony.

Defence advocate Chris Nel SC, for accused Trust Tofa, 30, said there was a possibility the DNA evidence collected from the victim – with one of two samples testing positively to Tofa alone – could have been a result of touch DNA...