The audio recordings of the alleged confession of Shakoor Roberts, accused of murdering his mother and hiding her body in their wheelie bin is not “clear enough” to be transcribed.
This was heard at the Mitchell’s Plain
Regional Court on Tuesday where Roberts is facing a murder charge.
The State is in possession of a cellphone voice recording, which was made by
relative Jamia Daniels, shortly after Gafsa’s body was found in March 2015.
Jamia took the witness stand earlier this year. She told the court she made a recording of Roberts in which he admits to killing his mother.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Mary Jacwu said State prosecutor, Darren Johnson, was battling to listen to sections of the voice note, which she said was “inaudible” at times.
The State has also requested the court notes of the witness testimonies about the recording.
Jacwu added the new development was vital to the State’s case: “The prosecutor has indicated he has tried to listen to some of the tapes which is inaudible.
“He has asked for the court notes which he will be reading. This is very important for the case.”
The matter was postponed to 20 November.
The witnesses relating to the recording are expected to continue their evidence on the stand once the
trial resumes.
KILLED: Mom, Gafsa Roberts
Prosecutors are set to prove Roberts, 27, strangled his mother to death on 27 February 2015, washed her body and hid it the dirtbin.
Three days later, a neighbour found 61-year-old Gafsa’s body in the bin outside her home in Winterhoek Street, Tafelsig.
Witnesses testified that Gafsa had been afraid of her son and slept with a knife.
Roberts pleaded not guilty.