National
Malan responsible for killing Blom, court hears─── 18:08 Thu, 30 Apr 2015
Johannesburg - A former stripper's boyfriend was quizzed in court on Thursday over his version of the murder of Dustan Blom, whose body was found in the boot of his car at Montecasino.
The testimony of JP Malan, who with Maruschka Robinson is accused of killing Blom, was described as a fabrication, with Robinson's lawyer telling Malan that he was the one responsible for Blom's death.
Blom's body was found in the boot of his car on September 22 2013, at Montecasino in Fourways after security guards noticed a foul smell coming from the car.
The matter was being heard at the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court.
Jesse Penton, for Robinson, continued his cross-examination of Malan that began on Wednesday. He asked Malan about his testimony regarding leaving Blom's car, with Blom's body in the boot, at Montecasino in the early afternoon of September 19.
Security footage previously shown to the court indicated that Blom's car entered the entertainment complex at 12:50 that day. Malan could not be seen on the footage, but admitted at the beginning of the trial that he was the one who left Blom's car there with the body in the boot.
"Why did you go and park the vehicle at Montecasino?" Penton asked Malan.
"Because people were starting to phone to find out where Dustan was," Malan said.
"Let me tell me what my problem is with your evidence. You had nothing to do with Dustan's death... is that right?" Penton said.
Malan said he thought at the time he did, because he gave Robinson the drugs which he believed Robinson had given to Blom, causing his death.
"Now why on earth would you think that? Your story is that he was given G [GHB, a date rape drug]. Am I fair to say you don't even know with certainty that G caused his [Blom's] death, it could have been a heart attack?" Penton said.
"What on earth made you think that the G caused Dustan's death?"
Malan said: "Well that's what accused number one [Robinson] told me, that she thinks she gave him too much G."
"You knew how Dustan died. It wasn't from G. You actually strangled him, that's how he died," Penton said.
"That's wrong," Malan said.
"My further problem I have with your evidence... you didn't give Dustan the G, you had nothing to do causing his death whether it was G or any other reason. You had nothing directly to do with his death. You didn't give him the G that's right?" Penton said.
"That's correct," Malan said.
"So when you got back to Dustan Blom's house, why did you decide to put his body in the boot and why did you decide to clean up the house? Surely you could have said to accused number one [Robinson] 'This is your problem...this is dangerous stuff. I want nothing to do with it'," Penton said.
"I did feel responsible, that's why I did," Malan said.
Penton said to Malan that he took a leading role on the morning of September 19, deciding to put Blom's body in the boot, and telling Robinson to clean up.
"Why you took the leading role is because you knew you were the guy who killed Dustan and that is the reason why you put his body into the boot and decided to go and dump the car somewhere... to cover your own tracks," he said.
"That is wrong," Malan replied.
On Wednesday, Penton questioned Malan on several aspects of his testimony, especially on his actions during the morning of September 18, the day Blom died.
Malan had testified that Robinson gave him Blom's bank card to draw money, leaving Blom's house before 06:00.
Penton asked Malan why he did not go to the nearest ATM to draw money, instead of going to the guesthouse on Surrey Avenue where he was staying.
"You could have gone to the nearest ATM... a Shell garage. Why didn't you just go there to draw money?" Penton said.
"I can't remember," Malan said.
"Then when you get to your place, did you immediately contact accused number one [Robinson] to get the [taxi driver]'s number. So you weren't worried that the deceased [Blom] could wake up and find his card missing?" Penton said.
"Well I hadn't started to draw [money] yet... not at that point, no," Malan replied.
"May I suggest to you why you weren't worried about the deceased [Blom] waking up. At that point in time you already knew the deceased was dead, that was why you took your time. Do you agree with me?" Penton said.
"No, I don't," Malan said.
The trial continues.
- News24.com
Blom's body was found in the boot of his car on September 22 2013, at Montecasino in Fourways after security guards noticed a foul smell coming from the car.
The matter was being heard at the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court.
Jesse Penton, for Robinson, continued his cross-examination of Malan that began on Wednesday. He asked Malan about his testimony regarding leaving Blom's car, with Blom's body in the boot, at Montecasino in the early afternoon of September 19.
Security footage previously shown to the court indicated that Blom's car entered the entertainment complex at 12:50 that day. Malan could not be seen on the footage, but admitted at the beginning of the trial that he was the one who left Blom's car there with the body in the boot.
"Why did you go and park the vehicle at Montecasino?" Penton asked Malan.
"Because people were starting to phone to find out where Dustan was," Malan said.
"Let me tell me what my problem is with your evidence. You had nothing to do with Dustan's death... is that right?" Penton said.
Malan said he thought at the time he did, because he gave Robinson the drugs which he believed Robinson had given to Blom, causing his death.
"Now why on earth would you think that? Your story is that he was given G [GHB, a date rape drug]. Am I fair to say you don't even know with certainty that G caused his [Blom's] death, it could have been a heart attack?" Penton said.
"What on earth made you think that the G caused Dustan's death?"
Malan said: "Well that's what accused number one [Robinson] told me, that she thinks she gave him too much G."
"You knew how Dustan died. It wasn't from G. You actually strangled him, that's how he died," Penton said.
"That's wrong," Malan said.
"My further problem I have with your evidence... you didn't give Dustan the G, you had nothing to do causing his death whether it was G or any other reason. You had nothing directly to do with his death. You didn't give him the G that's right?" Penton said.
"That's correct," Malan said.
"So when you got back to Dustan Blom's house, why did you decide to put his body in the boot and why did you decide to clean up the house? Surely you could have said to accused number one [Robinson] 'This is your problem...this is dangerous stuff. I want nothing to do with it'," Penton said.
"I did feel responsible, that's why I did," Malan said.
Penton said to Malan that he took a leading role on the morning of September 19, deciding to put Blom's body in the boot, and telling Robinson to clean up.
"Why you took the leading role is because you knew you were the guy who killed Dustan and that is the reason why you put his body into the boot and decided to go and dump the car somewhere... to cover your own tracks," he said.
"That is wrong," Malan replied.
On Wednesday, Penton questioned Malan on several aspects of his testimony, especially on his actions during the morning of September 18, the day Blom died.
Malan had testified that Robinson gave him Blom's bank card to draw money, leaving Blom's house before 06:00.
Penton asked Malan why he did not go to the nearest ATM to draw money, instead of going to the guesthouse on Surrey Avenue where he was staying.
"You could have gone to the nearest ATM... a Shell garage. Why didn't you just go there to draw money?" Penton said.
"I can't remember," Malan said.
"Then when you get to your place, did you immediately contact accused number one [Robinson] to get the [taxi driver]'s number. So you weren't worried that the deceased [Blom] could wake up and find his card missing?" Penton said.
"Well I hadn't started to draw [money] yet... not at that point, no," Malan replied.
"May I suggest to you why you weren't worried about the deceased [Blom] waking up. At that point in time you already knew the deceased was dead, that was why you took your time. Do you agree with me?" Penton said.
"No, I don't," Malan said.
The trial continues.
- News24.com
