A suspect in baby Zahnia Woodward’s murder, who turned State witness, claims one of the accused on trial wanted her to get rid of the white VW Golf used in the drive-by shooting in December 2016.
Zahnia was shot through the head while sitting on her father’s lap outside their home in Carnation Street, while waiting for her mom, Cindy Woodward, to arrive from work.
Christopher September, Larry Johnson and his mother Mirriam, Tashwill Kriel and Morne May have been charged with murder, attempted murder and obstruction of justice.
Accused 6 in the matter, Simoney Kindo, was sentenced to four years after she pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
Kindo is Mirriam Johnson’s niece.
Upon taking the stand, Kindo started crying and told Judge Robert Henney she did not want to testify.
COMMANDED: State witness Simoney Kindo took the stand at the Western Cape High Court
“I don’t want to be in this case,” she said.
She also mouthed to the investigating officer “ek is bang” during her testimony.
Henney explained if she had a valid reason, he would start an enquiry, but she would still have to serve her time in jail.
She then agreed to carry on with her testimony.
According to Kindo, Mirriam told her to get rid of the white Golf “by any means necessary” following the shooting in Ocean View.
Kindo said she was a drug addict and said she was high “most of the time” and did not want to ask too many questions.
“The car was parked not far from (Mirriam’s) house in Lintu Street, Masiphumelele. She sent me to go check on it. The steering was locked, some of the windows were open and the driver’s door could not close properly,” Kindo told the court.
‘GAVE INSTRUCTIONS’: Larry Johnson’s mother, Mirriam
Larry then allegedly called her on Mirriam’s cellphone, instructing her to get the key from a man called Jesus in Fish Hoek.
“I have also seen accused one (September) with my cousin (Larry) a few times. They drank and smoked at my aunt’s house,” said Kindo.
It is believed Larry was hiding out in Fish Hoek and the car was being moved around in Masiphumelele by Kindo and three of her closest friends.
DETAILS: Presiding Judge Robert Henney, with accused, during an inspection in loco in Ocean View on Tuesday
“Then my aunt said she did not want the car, I must get rid of it by any means. I can even burn it. She was nervous and agitated.
“We sold the wheels with the rims first. [A man] bought them, then asked her if he can just take the car. She said yes,” Kindo said.
Kindo said a few days before Zahnia’s murder, Larry had sent a man, called Ivan, to Ocean View with instructions to buy certain items, which he brought to Mirriam’s house.
“There were four firearms wrapped in a Shoprite bag. (Mirriam) told me to take them to Larry’s father’s house and he (Larry) was there waiting for it,” she said.
Case continues on Monday.