Alibi belatedly corroborated for co-accused in Angy Peter case

However, state witnesses have alleged that the same taxi was used to transport Du Preez’s body after the assault.

Dayimani, along with Angy Peter, her husband Isaac Mbadu and co-accused Christopher Dina, are on trial in the Western Cape High Court for the kidnapping, assault and murder of Du Preez in October 2012.

Two eyewitnesses testified that they saw “the driver of the white taxi” assaulting Du Preez in the street in Bardale with a golf stick while questioning him about a stolen TV. The same taxi was later parked outside Dayimani’s home.

Pelesa argued that it was strange that Cofa had waited until trial to approach authorities with “vital information” which could have eliminated Diyamani from the entire trial.

Asked to recall what happened in 2012, Cofa said while he worked for a different taxi owner, he often filled in for other drivers, including Dayimani, if they were sick.

“I remember that weekend because it was the weekend Azola was arrested. My taxi was at the mechanic because it was involved in an accident. I helped him out on several occasions before that as well,” he said.

Cofa said he received a call at 5am from Dayimani, asking him to stand-in for him as he was sick on the Friday.

“When I got to his house in Bardale, the door was already open because I called to say I was on my way. I took the keys from the table in the lounge and peeped into his room. He told me where the petrol money was and I left,” he said.

Cofa said Dayimani then called him at 10am the same day, informing him to keep the taxi for the weekend.

“I took the taxi and went to work with it on my usual route from Khayelitsha to Kuils River. At the end of the day, I went to cash in with the owner of the taxi and I took the taxi home with me. I did the same the Saturday and Sunday. The owner came to fetch the taxi from me after work,” he said.

Cofa said he was contacted by the taxi owner the next morning and asked to take the taxi again as Dayimani had been arrested.

“I didn’t question the owner further. On Thursday, I only heard at the rank that Azola was arrested because they say the taxi was used. I told the owner I had it so she could go tell the police,” he said.

While Cofa said he had known Dayimani for the past 13 years, he could not tell the court if he was married or if he lived with his family.

Pelesa questioned Cofa several times on his reasons not to come forward with the information earlier.

“So you let your friend be wrongly accused. You let him sit in jail while you knew you had the taxi that weekend. Why do you only come to rescue him now? It doesn’t make sense that he [Dayimani] would subject himself to a full trial when he knew you had information like this all along. Do you agree?” he asked Cofa.

Cofa agreed that it was strange. “I really wanted to tell someone, but I didn’t know how. That’s why I told the owner of the taxi.”

Pelesa asked Cofa which numbers were used to make the calls and he told the court that he intended checking it with the cellphone networks.

Christopher Dina is to take the stand when the matter continues Friday 8 August.