VLAKFONTEIN murder accused Fita Khupe was treated like a victim who had lost his loved ones.
This was according to investigating officer Sergeant Sanele Ndlovu, who was cross-examined in the Protea Magistrates Court.
He said four Khoza family members were killed after Khupe returned from Zimbabwe.
Ndlovo said Khupe and his co-accused, Ernest Mabaso, lived in the same house with the decomposing bodies. He said it was strange people slept in a house with seven dead bodies covered by sand.
Defence lawyer Gerhard Landman said it was strange for Khupe to leave the bodies in the house he was coming back to.
“If one person told another to murder seven people, would he return to that house to sleep among decomposing bodies?” he asked.
Ndlovu said people sleeping with decomposing bodies meant they were brave.
Landman said it was strange that seven people had been killed without people noticing.
Ndlovu said a tenant in one of the back rooms could smell the stench, but did not see the murders.
He also said Khupe might flee the country if he got bail.
Landman said Khupe had had six days to flee.
Ndlovu said during those six days he was still a free man, but things had now changed as he faced serious charges.
The proceedings were halted by load-shedding and resumed again after midday. The matter has been postponed to Wednesday.
