KNYSNA NEWS - The evidence that finally cornered Knysna murderer Waydon Bezuidenhout (34) was the "mistake" he made during an interview with SAPS investigators, giving the details of the model and the colour of the Nissan X-Trail he had rented to use for a funeral.

Bezuidenhout, owner of an undertaker business in Main Street, had been called in for questioning by the SAPS based on the evidence of the murdered Mawande Kondlo's son, Wandu, that he (Bezuidenhout) had been the last person in whose company Kondlo was seen alive.

In the interview, Bezuidenhout revealed the details of the silver Nissan X-Trail.

Deeper investigation

This gave police the necessary traction to begin a deeper investigation into what Judge Patric Gamble described as "a horrendous kidnapping and brutal murder" of Kondlo.

That information, according to State advocate Lenro Badenhorst, led to the completion of the overall evidential puzzle that led to Bezuidenhout being convicted for the murder and kidnapping of Kondlo, receiving a life sentence.

Once the police knew about the car they set about their investigation.

Jigsaw puzzle

CCTV camera footage was the key to the start of completing the jigsaw puzzle.

The tracker retrieved from the vehicle also provided a detailed record of more than 50 points, where and when (and possibly why) the vehicle stopped at certain places. The GPS coordinates pinpointed the location of the vehicle during the fateful weekend of January 15 to 17, 2022.

Blood stains

The vehicle was sent for forensic examination in George. Blood stains were found in the car, in spite of Bezuidenhout spending nearly two hours at the Shell Garage in Main Street, trying to rid the vehicle of whatever traces there were of Kondlo. DNA samples were taken and matched with Kondlo.

In addition, cellphone calls between Bezuidenhout and the others involved in the plot (they still remain unknown) pinpointed who was where and when.

The puzzle was complete and what was circumstantial evidence became the pillar which led to Bezuidenhout being found guilty of murder.

Tracker data

Tracker evidence showed Bezuidenhout drove the X-Trail to Bokkopie Road early on the Sunday morning. The vehicle was stopped and idled at the place where the body was eventually discovered just off the road early on the Monday evening.

Walking towards the X-Trail.

The tracker data also showed that Bezuidenhout turned the X-Trail around on his way in the direction of Simola and drove past the body a second time "to make sure there was no movement".

Gamble said in the sentencing of Bezuidenhout "probabilities rather suggest that Kondlo was beaten up, strangled and gagged elsewhere".

"The time spent by the accused in the forest across from the Denron quarry - 18 minutes - certainly suggests that the deceased was not yet bound up, covered with the black bag and ready to be immediately taken away by the accused when he arrived there.

"But it is fair to infer in the circumstances that the deceased was at least further assaulted at the Denron scene at the very least in the presence of the accused: the accused himself says so," said Gamble.

Blows to the head

Whether Kondlo was already dead at the time he was dropped off "cannot be determined conclusively".

"The pathologist said that the blows to the head would probably have rendered him unconscious given the fracture to the skull. But it is possible that the deceased was still breathing when he was left for dead," said Gamble.

"However, it cannot be disputed that the deceased's attackers intended that he should die. That after all was their plan from the outset. And, when he was left in the forest he was bound up, strangled, gagged and covered with a bag to ensure asphyxiation in the event that his airways were not completely compromised. I can thus only conclude that the killers had the direct intention (dolus directus) to kill the deceased," added Gamble.

'Damaging evidence'

Bezudenhout's conduct at the Shell Garage on the Sunday morning (caught on CCTV cameras) in "ensuring that the boot of the X-Trail was thoroughly cleaned demonstrates a desire to get rid of damaging evidence and suggests a guilty frame of mind".

"Further, under questioning by Adv Badenhorst, the accused admitted that he did his best to keep the police away from the X-Trail as long as possible so to avoid detection of the deceased's DNA.

"Had he not told Sgt Xokozela (the investigating officer) during the Friday interview of the colour and model of the car, he might well have succeeded in that exercise," said Gamble.

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