A Nigerian, Ambrose Monye, insisted before a South African court that he did not give instructions for the killing of a South African woman, Chanelle Henning.
Monye spoke on Monday as the State completed cross-examination of the former Nigerian Olympian, in alleged link in the murder of Henning.,
The state Prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, in final submissions in trial of Monye in the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, said that he believed the accused was involved in Henning’s murder.
Monye denied having any part in it.
“My Lord, I never gave instructions to anybody to carry out any illegal action,” Monye said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Henning, 26, died in a shooting in Faerie Glen on Nov. 8 2011, shortly after dropping her child at a crèche.
Monye and his co-accused, Andre Gouws, pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge of conspiracy to murder Henning.
The state alleged that Monye and Gouws conspired with former Policeman Gerhardus du- Plessis and Willem Pieterse in the murder of Henning.
Du Plessis and Pieterse are serving 18 years imprisonment after confessing their roles in the murder.
Nel said Gouws wanted someone killed and he asked Monye to assist him.
He narrated how Monye met Pieterse who agreed to carry out the killing.
Nel said Monye introduced Gouws to Pieterse and Du Plessis on Nov. 2, 2011.
He said Monye insisted that the two should follow Gouws to Henning’s house and workplace.
Monye, however, denied any involvement in the conspiracy and muder.
“They followed Gouws willingly,” Monye told the court.
Nel also explained how Pieterse and Du Plessis failed to kill Henning days before she was murdered, and how Monye arranged a meeting at Romans Pizza in Sunnyside, Pretoria, to iron out the problem.
“My lord there was nothing like that. I never arranged a meeting for such things,” Monye said.
Monye also denied threatening Du Plessis when he allegedly said that he was no longer taking part in the murder.
Nel referred to cell phone records showing calls between Monye and Pieterse and between Monye and Gouws on the day of the murder.
He said Monye demanded payment for the murder on Nov. 8, 2011, and Gouws withdrew R44.000 (about N 792,000) from his bank account on that same day.
He said few days later R31.500 (about N 558,000) was deposited into Monye’s account.
Nel said this was payment for the murder.
“My lord, I never demanded any money from anybody,” Monye said.
NAN reports that with conclusion of cross-examination by the prosecution, Daan Mostert, counsel for Gouws, will question Monye at next hearing on July 26.
