Donovan Moodley won't give up

Convicted killer Donovan Moodley is not giving up on his attempts to win his freedom.

In a last-ditch attempt to get out of jail, Moodley has filed an application in the Johannesburg High Court for a retrial, stating that he wants to present the "true story" of former Bond University student Leigh Matthews' death seven years ago.

Rob Matthews, Leigh's father, last night was at a loss for words.

"What do you expect me to say? Moodley has changed his version so many times. It is impossible for us to believe anything that he says any more."

In a 374-page affidavit filed on July 18 and July 25, Moodley, who is serving time at the Johannesburg Medium B prison, details how three drug dealers - whom he names only as Frank, Jemba and Ali - offered to pay him R1-million to kidnap a fellow student from a wealthy family.

He claimed that they threatened to harm his family if he refused.

Matthews was not the original target but was decided on when they saw her in the parking area.

Moodley claims in his latest affidavit that he and the three drug dealers hijacked her and took her to a parking ground in Randburg.

She was tied up, gagged and blindfolded. Her car was driven to the Bond University campus and abandoned.

The men then took her to Walkerville, in Midvaal, south of Johannesburg.

Moodley said Frank phoned Leigh's parents to demand a R50000 ransom, which Matthews dropped off along the N1 highway.

Frank and Moodley went to pick up the money and then drove back to Walkerville.

"Jemba then shot Leigh from behind and pulled the blanket at the same time. She was naked . fell like a brick, like she was dead."

Moodley said that Leigh was then pulled into bushes and three more shots were fired.

"When the first shot was fired, my knees gave way and I was crying," he said.

"They then took Leigh's clothes and threw them into my car. I was begging to live.

"Then they told me to leave with lots of threats."

The next morning, on his way home, he stopped and burned Leigh's clothes and shoes in undergrowth, together with his clothes.

He said he wanted to go to the police but was too afraid. He said that after two weeks he read an article about Leigh's ring and retrieved it.

"I cleaned it up and wanted to send it back to her family once things got quiet."