'Murder happened after I accepted Jesus'
March 31, 2004 Edition -1
Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
Maria Sithole, one of two women accused of murdering a pizzeria manager, confirmed that she had worked as a prostitute - but had converted to Christianity and given up the profession.
Sithole (24) and Lungracia Shilenge (29), of Soshanguve and Mamelodi respectively, are standing trial in the Johannesburg High Court for killing Panarottis Pizza and Restaurant senior manager Henning Roux in Sandton City on November 9 2000.
The accused have denied the three charges of murder, aggravated robbery and attempted robbery.
In their evidence, the accused said Roux had offered them a lift to Pretoria from the Longhorn restaurant in Isando, Kempton Park. On the way, he invited them for drinks at Panarottis.
Sithole testified that Roux had demanded to have sex with her for R250, but she had refused.
Roux became aggressive, resulting in a struggle between the accused and the deceased, and Sithole struck Roux on the head with a bottle.
Roux's naked body was found with a head wound, and he had been tied and strangled.
During cross-examination yesterday Sithole confirmed that she had been a prostitute and had been previously convicted for being a lady of the night.
She was fined R400 for the offence or 30 days imprisonment, she told the court.
The accused said she was a prostitute until she met her Polish boyfriend and converted to Christianity.
"I am a married woman now but before I met Jesus I was one (prostitute)," she said of her changed ways.
"Since I believe in God, I will never tell a lie. This incident happened after I had accepted Jesus, and today I believe and trust in God," added Sithole.
Her co-accused, Shilenge, testified how she had intervened after Roux had started assaulting Sithole.
She said Roux had called her "a fat bitch" and assaulted her when she intervened.
Shilenge had also witnessed how Sithole hit the pizzeria manager with a bottle.
She described herself as a well-mannered person who would not hurt anyone, before breaking down.
The state was expected to cross-examine Shilenge today.
