The legal defence of former Free State municipal official Caroline Mokgothu closed its case on Friday without her co-accused and husband being called to testify.
Mokgothu testified in her own defence in the Bloemfontein High Court on Thursday.
She and her husband James Mokgothu face charges of murder, alternatively conspiracy, in connection with the shooting of ANC-appointed Naledi mayor Motlantsi “Joko” Motloi at his home in Wepener, in the eastern Free State, in May last year.
It was expected that James, a former paramedic, would take the stand on Friday to testify in his defence.
However, the couple's defence counsel Johann Nel told Free State Judge President H M Musi that the defence team was closing its case.
Musi postponed the matter until Monday for legal arguments.
This week, an alleged co-schemer in the murder, Sabata Potele, testified about visits to Lesotho with James to meet Motloi’s alleged assassin Senowe Khaka and two traditional healers for muti for protection.
During cross examination by the defence, Potele also told the court that he was aware that Motloi owed his alleged killer R5000.
Khaka, 28, from Lesotho, admitted to the crime and was sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment in a separate trial.
Caroline Mokgothu testified that she did not know Khaka and knew nothing of a plot to kill Motloi.
“Potele told the court you were part of the plot,” State prosecutor Amanda Bester said in cross-examination, asking why he would do that.
“I do not know why,” Mokgothu replied through an interpreter. She said the claim was not the truth.
Caroline also could not explain the origins of the .38 revolver, her husband allegedly gave Senowe.
She said there had never been a firearm in her home and that she and her husband had not applied for a firearm license.
At the time of Motloi's murder, the municipality had for years been plagued by infighting between councillors, municipal officials and workers.
Caroline, who was director of corporate governance at Naledi, occasionally also acted as the municipality's manager.
The Free State government disbanded the Naledi town council, based in Dewetsdorp, soon after the killing and appointed an administrator.
The trial had to be moved to a bigger court this week as the public gallery was packed. Amon those who attended was a group of women in ANC Women's League uniform.
The case continues. -
Sapa