Sowetan
August 18 2010
http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2010/08/18/lover_murdered-priest-for-money
GRUESOME details of how Catholic priest Father Lionel Sham was murdered by his lover have been laid out in the Johannesburg high court.
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| 'Sex debt led to preacher's gruesome death' |
The State alleges that after having passionate sex with his alleged killer, Velaphi Malgas, 27, in February last year, the priest failed to pay him the full amount.
The indictment says: "There was a sexual relationship between the deceased and the accused, in terms of which the deceased paid the accused for sexual services rendered to him.
"After their sexual encounter, the deceased paid the accused less than he had expected for the sexual services. Shortly thereafter Malgas decided to rob him in revenge for the perceived short payment."
The church's alter boy, Daniel Motlhabane, testified that Malgas was a regular at the quarters but spent most of his time in the priest's office watching television.
Father Sham, 65, was allegedly kidnapped from his quarters at the Catholic Church in Mohlakeng, Randfontein, by Malgas and his brother-in-law Daniel Mpevu.
They allegedly forced him to disclose where he kept money before tying him up and forcing him into his car.
They then drove the car to Orange Farm, where they left the stolen goods and proceeded to De Deur, where they left the priest in an open veld and drove off.
On their way back, they were involved in a car accident. Mpevu died on the scene and Malgas fled to a nearby bush. Later, he allegedly flagged a passing ambulance for a lift, but the suspicious paramedics handed him over to the police.
Warrant Officer Mogomotsi Motshaba testified yesterday that he went to search the priest's house after he was reported missing by members of his congregation.
"When I searched the bedroom I found that everything was intact, but found a handkerchief with bloodstains in the washing basket. In the bathroom there was a jungle knife on the floor and I noticed that the TV and laptop were missing," he said.
The priest's body was found a week later by a passerby.
He was severely beaten and his face tightly wrapped in duct tape, his feet tied and his hands tied between his legs.
He died of suffocation and subdural haemorrhage.
The trial continues.
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