A State witness shocked the court by claiming that alleged child murderer, Melvin Volkwyn, was seen carrying a “heavy suitcase” just days after slain toddler Orderick Lucas was last seen.
Rugaya Philander took the stand at the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, recounting the day she allegedly saw Volkwyn carrying a suitcase she claims he later dumped.
Orderick was last seen on 24 March 2019, but it was only four days later that his mother Davedine discovered he was missing.
On 2 April 2019, his tiny body was discovered in a drain a street away from his ouma’s home.
Volkwyn was later charged with his murder following claims by Davedine that he was the last person to care for the boy.
Rugaya, who works with Davedine, told the court that on 26 March, she saw Melvin walking down Kleinvlei Road shortly before 5am, dragging a heavy suitcase behind him as she waited for the truck to collect her for work.
“Ek het gewag vir die trok toe kom Mel verby, dit was 4.45am, toe skree ek: ‘Môre moffie’.
“Toe sê hy ‘my naam is nie moffie nie, dit is Mel.’
“I said he was an early bird, and asked where he was going. He did not answer me.”
Rugaya told the court she questioned Volkwyn about the heavy suitcase, claiming that he stopped several times along the road to rest.
“Toe sê ek ‘haai, maar die case is swaar, daai kan nie klere wees nie’, toe loop hy al aan, rus-rus. En nie lank daarna nie toe kom hy terug sonder die case.”
Rugaya estimated the size of the black suitcase to be about 50cm wide and 90cm in height.
However, defence attorney Susan Kuun said that Melvin denied owning such a suitcase or carrying a bag on the day he saw Rugaya.
While no evidence of the alleged suitcase was ever found after the body of Orderick was discovered, Rugaya insisted that she saw him with the suitcase.
“Ek het net gesê wat ek gesien het,” Rugaya testified.
She said on 28 March, after she became aware of Orderick’s disappearance and Melvin’s arrest, she went to the police station to report what she had seen, and several days later gave a statement to police.
Rugaya was accompanied at court by Davedine who has not shown up for any other testimony except her own.
The state closed its case on Tuesday, but proceedings were halted after it was revealed that the defence planned to call several state witnesses to testify.
Kuun said the witnesses on the state’s list had not been called, as the state opted not to have them testify.
The defence now wanted to call these witnesses up, but she needed time to consult with them.
The trial was postponed provisionally to 12 April.