A South African man, Sibusiso
Madiya, has reportedly told a
Regional Court in Durban that he
acted in self-defence when he killed
a Chatsworth boy, because the victim
and his friends had transformed
into tigers before his eyes.
IOL.co.za reports that the 26-year-old
from Savannah Park pleaded not guilty
to a charge of murder on Thursday, 10
July, 2014.
According to the report, Madiya,
through his Legal Aid attorney Hycenth
Mlotshwa, told the court that he saw the
“tiger”, referring to the Grade 1 pupil
Lindokuhle Mabhena, approach him at a
Shallcross park in June last year and
thought he was going to attack him.
The accused added that he had stabbed
the boy with a knife he had found on
the ground earlier.
“It was only after a group of people arrived
that I realised it was not a tiger but a
human being,” Madiya reportedly said at
the start of his murder trial on
Thursday before magistrate Trevor
Levitt.
Mlotshwa told the court his client
believed in supernatural powers, adding
that the accused saw fellow inmates
transform into animals in the prison
where he was being held during the trial.
The Prosecutor, Krishen Shah, however,
said the accused had been referred for
mental observation and was deemed
mentally fit to stand trial.
It was gathered that around midday on
June 15 last year, Madiya was
skateboarding at a park in Peak Street,
Shallcross, when seven young children,
who had been following him, approached
him. He said they all suddenly
transformed into tigers.
A friend to Lindokuhle, who is now 10
years of age and cannot be named
because he is a minor, while testifying in
court on Thursday said he and his
friends were just playing and had not
done anything wrong to Madiya.
“We were going up and down the road on
the skateboard. While we were playing, we
had our back to Lindokuhle and (Madiya).
We then saw the uncle (Madiya) running
towards us and he took the skateboard,
saying he was going. When we looked
back, I saw Lindokuhle lying on the ground
and we ran to him.
“He was bleeding from a hole in his neck. I
carried him to the lawn nearby and I lay
him down. He was crying softly. I asked
him what happened and he pointed out to
the uncle (Madiya). We could still see him.
I called to another uncle for help and he
said he’ll call the police,” the witness boy
said.
It was gathered that during cross-
examination, Mlotshwa argued that
Madiya said “something strange
happened” at the park when the boys
transformed into tigers and that
Lindokuhle had threatened injury to his
client.
The trial is set to resume next month.
Madiya, has reportedly told a
Regional Court in Durban that he
acted in self-defence when he killed
a Chatsworth boy, because the victim
and his friends had transformed
into tigers before his eyes.
IOL.co.za reports that the 26-year-old
from Savannah Park pleaded not guilty
to a charge of murder on Thursday, 10
July, 2014.
According to the report, Madiya,
through his Legal Aid attorney Hycenth
Mlotshwa, told the court that he saw the
“tiger”, referring to the Grade 1 pupil
Lindokuhle Mabhena, approach him at a
Shallcross park in June last year and
thought he was going to attack him.
The accused added that he had stabbed
the boy with a knife he had found on
the ground earlier.
“It was only after a group of people arrived
that I realised it was not a tiger but a
human being,” Madiya reportedly said at
the start of his murder trial on
Thursday before magistrate Trevor
Levitt.
Mlotshwa told the court his client
believed in supernatural powers, adding
that the accused saw fellow inmates
transform into animals in the prison
where he was being held during the trial.
The Prosecutor, Krishen Shah, however,
said the accused had been referred for
mental observation and was deemed
mentally fit to stand trial.
It was gathered that around midday on
June 15 last year, Madiya was
skateboarding at a park in Peak Street,
Shallcross, when seven young children,
who had been following him, approached
him. He said they all suddenly
transformed into tigers.
A friend to Lindokuhle, who is now 10
years of age and cannot be named
because he is a minor, while testifying in
court on Thursday said he and his
friends were just playing and had not
done anything wrong to Madiya.
“We were going up and down the road on
the skateboard. While we were playing, we
had our back to Lindokuhle and (Madiya).
We then saw the uncle (Madiya) running
towards us and he took the skateboard,
saying he was going. When we looked
back, I saw Lindokuhle lying on the ground
and we ran to him.
“He was bleeding from a hole in his neck. I
carried him to the lawn nearby and I lay
him down. He was crying softly. I asked
him what happened and he pointed out to
the uncle (Madiya). We could still see him.
I called to another uncle for help and he
said he’ll call the police,” the witness boy
said.
It was gathered that during cross-
examination, Mlotshwa argued that
Madiya said “something strange
happened” at the park when the boys
transformed into tigers and that
Lindokuhle had threatened injury to his
client.
The trial is set to resume next month.
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