Flavio Hlabangwane who is accused of killing his cousin who was also his lover said he killed her because she cheated on him. Hlabangwane made the revelation at the high court sitting at Palmridge on Friday. He is standing trial for the murder of his cousin Tshepang Pitse who was killed in November 2021. Some of Pitse's body parts were discovered in Hlabangwane's freezer by his new girlfriend.

CHEATING ALLEGATIONS

Hlabangwane (28) told the court that around September 2021 he discovered that the deceased was cheating on him, and despite attempts to fix the relationship, he couldn't forgive her and suggested the break up. "At this time I only felt resentment and anger towards her, and it was during this period I started contemplating killing her, from the period  of september until october I mostly on the internet searching for ways to kill the deceased and for the quickest way to dispose her body," said Hlabangwane.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO KILL

He said:" I admit that although I can't remember the exact date, I took her bank card and went to buy food without asking her first, when I came back, she confronted me about using her card without informing her and this started an argument between us which at the time created an opportunity for me to actually kill her as I have planned." Hlabangwane said after murdering and dismembering Pitse's body, he planned to dispose of her legs and arms in different places at different times, but after he had killed her, he couldn't sleep in the house by himself.  "I then took drugs and continued dismembering the body. I took both her arms and legs, put them in black plastic bags and put them in the freezer. Hlabangwane said he took the head and torso, put them in a bag and drove away. I went to the Klip Revier and disposed the torso."

NPA WELCOMES ADMISSIONS

NPA spokesman Phindi Mjonondwane said they welcome the attitude of the accused person, coming to court and alleviating the pressure of proving the state's case beyond reasonable doubt. "There was no plea bargaining, instead he pleaded guilty and thereafter made admissions in terms of section 220 of the criminal procedure act. It was our duty as the state to bring evidence before court that he planned this murder, and soon after we closed the testimony of the first state witness and we were about to call the second witness when he approached his legal counsel and indicated that he wants to do further admissions." Mjondane said.

Court proceedings will resume on Tuesday and sentencing arguments will be heard on the same day.