TODAY two mothers whose model daughters were killed by their boyfriends will meet.
Gauteng ANC Women’s League spokeswoman Jacqui Mofokeng – who was in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to support Busi Khumalo whose daughter Zanele was murdered in April 2011 – said she would arrange for June Steenkamp and Busi to meet today.
June is the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, who was killed on February 14 last year by Paralympian Oscar Pistorius.
Their cases ironically have been in adjacent courtrooms.
Today, Pistorius may take the stand to testify in his defence.
“Both mothers expressed the desire to support each other and I am making arrangements for the meeting to happen,” said Mofokeng.
“Though Mrs Steenkamp will be in the court next door, I will arrange for her to be with Mrs Khumalo during the sentencing.
“They are both very emotional and they just want to be there for one another.”
Mofokeng said regular visits to a psychologist were part of Steenkamp’s routine.
“It was announced that Oscar will take the stand and she had to go to a psychologist to prepare herself.”
But in the courtroom next to Pistorius’, Thato Kutumela heard closing arguments for his expected sentencing today.
He was convicted of murder, rape and theft in November last year.
The court heard he deserved a life sentence for strangling Zanele at her home in Pretoria.
State prosecutor George Baloyi said Kutumela did not admit guilt, and it would be almost impossible for him to be rehabilitated.
“Life imprisonment is an appropriate sentence. He is a danger to society,” said Baloyi.
Kutumela’s lawyer Anneke van Wyk said Zanele’s murder was not the most serious crime and Kutumela did not deserve a life sentence.
“The court must compare the case with other cases where victims suffered a lot of pain,” she said.
Zanele’s father Themba Khumalo said it was insensitive to say his daughter died comfortably.
“He bathed her body after the murder. He even brushed her teeth and put her to bed.
“Those are not the actions of an amateur. His actions really disturbed us. There cannot be a better or worse murder. Murder is murder,” he said.
The case continues.
Murdered models’ moms to meet
Gauteng ANC Women’s League spokeswoman Jacqui Mofokeng – who was in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to support Busi Khumalo whose daughter Zanele was murdered in April 2011 – said she would arrange for June Steenkamp and Busi to meet today.
June is the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, who was killed on February 14 last year by Paralympian Oscar Pistorius.
Their cases ironically have been in adjacent courtrooms.
Today, Pistorius may take the stand to testify in his defence.
“Both mothers expressed the desire to support each other and I am making arrangements for the meeting to happen,” said Mofokeng.
“Though Mrs Steenkamp will be in the court next door, I will arrange for her to be with Mrs Khumalo during the sentencing.
“They are both very emotional and they just want to be there for one another.”
Mofokeng said regular visits to a psychologist were part of Steenkamp’s routine.
“It was announced that Oscar will take the stand and she had to go to a psychologist to prepare herself.”
But in the courtroom next to Pistorius’, Thato Kutumela heard closing arguments for his expected sentencing today.
He was convicted of murder, rape and theft in November last year.
The court heard he deserved a life sentence for strangling Zanele at her home in Pretoria.
State prosecutor George Baloyi said Kutumela did not admit guilt, and it would be almost impossible for him to be rehabilitated.
“Life imprisonment is an appropriate sentence. He is a danger to society,” said Baloyi.
Kutumela’s lawyer Anneke van Wyk said Zanele’s murder was not the most serious crime and Kutumela did not deserve a life sentence.
“The court must compare the case with other cases where victims suffered a lot of pain,” she said.
Zanele’s father Themba Khumalo said it was insensitive to say his daughter died comfortably.
“He bathed her body after the murder. He even brushed her teeth and put her to bed.
“Those are not the actions of an amateur. His actions really disturbed us. There cannot be a better or worse murder. Murder is murder,” he said.
The case continues.
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