Fabianus Fillipus - the man accused of killing two Hout Bay police officers - has denied telling a close friend that he was responsible.
|||Cape Town - The man on trial for murdering two Hout Bay police officers has denied calling a close friend to tell him that he was responsible.
Namibian-born Fabianus Fillipus denied in the Western Cape High Court on Monday that he shot constables Phindiwe Nikani, 26, and Mandisi Nduku, 27, in Mandela Park on October 12.
The officers, who were patrolling in the area at about 11pm, had asked Fillipus to move his car parked close to a shebeen. The State alleges he later returned and opened fire on the officers.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Samantha Raphels, the court heard that Fillipus had allegedly confessed to his friend, Simeon Mangeni, a day after the murders.
Fillipus responded: “No, that’s his own story, I never told him that.”
He also denied Mangeni’s evidence that Fillipus wanted to borrow R1 000 to go to Namibia urgently.
Another witness, Israel Shipingana, said Fillipus had asked him for R500, but Fillipus told the court he had called Shipingana to inquire about his house that had been ransacked the night before.
Raphels told Fillipus that a third witness, Xoliswa Mayipheli, had allegedly seen him running from the police vehicle that night.
“She said you looked back three times and that’s how she saw your face, and she knows you because you are the one who drives a BMW in the area.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Fillipus responded.
Referring to the testimony of Immanual Paulus, Raphels asked Fillipus to comment on the fact that he was allegedly seen running with a gun in hand after the shots were fired.
“It’s not me because I don’t possess a firearm,” Fillipus said.
Police never recovered the murder weapon.
Closing arguments are expected on Tuesday.
jade.otto@inl.co.za
Cape Argus