South African serial killer found guilty of murdering 13 women

[News_Editor]

South African serial killer found guilty of murdering 13 women

2010-12-24 10:39:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (BNO NEWS) -- A serial killer was found guilty on Thursday of murdering 13 women in sugar-cane plantations in South Africa, the SAPA news agency reported.

Thozamile Taki, dubbed as the sugar-cane serial killer, was found guilty on the 26 charges against him. His co-defendant and former girlfriend, Hlengiwe Nene, was found not guilty as the Durban High Court considered her a victim of the circumstances.

"Nene found herself in this trouble for not cooperating with police. Had she done so she would not be in this mess," said Judge King Ndlovu.

Taki lured women to leave their homes with job promises in factories or companies and then killed them. Afterwards, he dumped their bodies in the sugar-cane plantations in Umzinto and Port St. Johns. The corpses were found in 2007.

"I want to see Thozamile die in jail. I don't want to see him out - he is not good for the community. I don't have any grudge against Hlengiwe. She did not spill any blood," the sister of one of the victims said.

The two defendants were arrested in 2007 and have been in custody since then. A search at Nene's residence unveiled a cell phone which was owned by Charity Khumalo, one of the victims. Investigators later found that Taki used the mobile phones of his victims.

In addition, Taki requested the victims to bring money as they left their homes. He claimed that it was for paying the rent or as a bribe to secure their employment. Nene was allegedly his abettor in the crimes.

However, Nene was found not guilty on the 13 charges against her. After her release, she had to be escorted by police officers as a group of angry women were waiting for her outside courtroom. She said she cannot explain why she got involved in the crimes.

"Dating Thozamile taught me a lesson about dating. I am numb, I don't even know what I would say to him if I would speak to him now," said Nene.

During trial, in March, Taki attempted to escape from the Westville prison along with seven other men. The prison break attempt was disrupted and the sugar-cane serial killer fell through a fourth floor ceiling and had to be hospitalized.

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