Violence present in 'Modimolle monster' attack: testimony

A sharp object was used to assault Ina Bonnette, the ex-wife of "Modimolle monster" Johan Kotze, the High Court in Pretoria heard on Monday.

"A certain amount of violence would have been needed," plastic surgeon Johannes Kritzinger testified about the injuries to Bonnette's breast implants.

Kritzinger told the court there were between five and 10 puncture wounds to her right breast and three to her left. "The cuts were made with a very sharp object."

State prosecutor Retha Meintjes showed him a needle more than seven centimetres long and asked if it could have been used to make the puncture wounds. Kritzinger said a sharp object with the same width would have left the same wounds.

Kotze's new lawyer, Piet Greyling, asked Kritzinger whether the wounds were inflicted by a needle or a nail.

"The wounds were made by a thin, sharp object, and it is clean wounds?" he asked.

"Correct," Kritzinger said.

He agreed it was more likely the wounds were inflicted with a needle than a nail.

Kotze, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane, and Frans Mphaka are accused of murdering Kotze's 19-year-old stepson Conrad Bonnette at Kotze's house in Modimolle on January 3.

They are also accused of kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Ina Bonnette earlier that day.

A plea of not guilty was noted on behalf of Kotze after he refused to enter a plea, and claimed his accountability and ability to follow and contribute to court proceedings was in question.

His three co-accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges. They claimed Kotze forced them to take part in the attack on Bonnette and claimed they had only pretended to rape her.

Bonnette testified Kotze tortured her with various objects before instructing the other three to rape her.

She told the court she listened to her son pleading for his life before he was shot in the head and heart.