Cape Town - The man accused of killing a 32-year-old Khayelitsha mother in 2018 appeared in the Western Cape High Court where the State intends to get to the bottom of her mysterious murder.
Wendy Papu was killed on January 9, allegedly by her boyfriend, Thando Faku.
It is alleged she was with her baby in the lounge area of their Khayelitsha home when Faku entered and fired a single shot to her head, killing her instantly.
The trial is before acting Judge Constance Nziweni.
On Wednesday Khayelitsha resident Musa Berend, 25, testified as to what he saw the night Papu was killed.
Thulani Papu, who identified his sister when she was found dead in her nightgown, sat quietly in the gallery.
Berend said he went outside his home when he heard something similar to the sound of an electrical fault.
He said that at about11pm, he saw Faku because he looked directly at him as he passed by in an alley beside his home, gave him a side stare, and lifted his black hoodie over his head.
When Judge Nziweni asked Berend to demonstrate the fleeting glare, Faku smirked from the dock.
“The following day I heard that a lady was shot around the time I thought it was the electricity,” Berend said.
When asked by Faku’s lawyer if he “heard” someone was killed, Berend said: “No one told me, I just saw police when I was on my way to work.”
He said the police approached him and he gave a signed statement two days after Papu was killed.
However, Faku’s lawyer, during cross-examination, said the only signed statement produced for the defence was made on July 5, 2019 – more than a year after the incident.
Faku is charged with a count of murder and has made formal admissions that his firearm was used to kill Papu.
According to the post-mortem report, Papu died as a result of a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Four police officers were to give evidence yesterday but will only be able to proceed with trial on Monday.