Murder accused reportedly changes tune
Spotlight on Mulundu’s 'contradictory' statements
Twenty-two-year-old Shannon Wasserfall's remains were found in a shallow grave six months after she was reported missing.
During the Shannon Wasserfall murder trial, it came to light that accused Steven Mulundu apparently gave two contradictory statements to the police.
Last week, detective-inspector Johan Geiseb testified that he took a statement from Mulundu on 9 October 2020 before he was a suspect in police investigations.
In that statement, Mulundu reportedly said he helped get the vehicle his sister and co-accused, Azaan Madisia, was driving out of the mud near Dunes Mall on the day of Wasserfall's disappearance.
He reportedly said Madisia told him she was trying to take a shortcut to the garbage dump when the car got stuck.
Mulundu also apparently said he noticed boxes in the back of his sister's work van after they arrived at her house, but that he was not suspicious of them.
Second statement
Geiseb further testified that Mulundu made a second statement on 6 November 2020 in which he apparently admitted that he was involved in the removal of Wasserfall's body.
In the second statement, he reportedly said he saw blood on the victim’s head.
In her guilty plea read in court earlier this week, Madisia said there was no blood at the scene and that Wasserfall was not bleeding. Mulundu's guilty plea mentions blood at the scene.
Mulundu's legal representative, Tanya Klazen, later argued that Mulundu did not have the final say on his second statement. She said Mulundu did not say he saw blood on Wasserfall's head, but rather that he saw blood on the wall.
Klazen further argued that her client was rushed to a court appearance after the statement was taken and that he was not given a chance to look at it again.
Mulundu is said to have asked to see the statement several times, but these requests were not heeded.
To this, Geiseb replied that Mulundu apparently only asked about cigarettes.
"I was summoned to see him, but he only asked to smoke. He said he gets light-headed if he doesn't smoke for long periods of time.”
Last week, detective-inspector Johan Geiseb testified that he took a statement from Mulundu on 9 October 2020 before he was a suspect in police investigations.
In that statement, Mulundu reportedly said he helped get the vehicle his sister and co-accused, Azaan Madisia, was driving out of the mud near Dunes Mall on the day of Wasserfall's disappearance.
He reportedly said Madisia told him she was trying to take a shortcut to the garbage dump when the car got stuck.
Mulundu also apparently said he noticed boxes in the back of his sister's work van after they arrived at her house, but that he was not suspicious of them.
Second statement
Geiseb further testified that Mulundu made a second statement on 6 November 2020 in which he apparently admitted that he was involved in the removal of Wasserfall's body.
In the second statement, he reportedly said he saw blood on the victim’s head.
In her guilty plea read in court earlier this week, Madisia said there was no blood at the scene and that Wasserfall was not bleeding. Mulundu's guilty plea mentions blood at the scene.
Mulundu's legal representative, Tanya Klazen, later argued that Mulundu did not have the final say on his second statement. She said Mulundu did not say he saw blood on Wasserfall's head, but rather that he saw blood on the wall.
Klazen further argued that her client was rushed to a court appearance after the statement was taken and that he was not given a chance to look at it again.
Mulundu is said to have asked to see the statement several times, but these requests were not heeded.
To this, Geiseb replied that Mulundu apparently only asked about cigarettes.
"I was summoned to see him, but he only asked to smoke. He said he gets light-headed if he doesn't smoke for long periods of time.”
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