A man accused of being the Table Mountain killer is currently standing trial for the fatal stabbings of two people and attacking 10 hikers. In his latest court appearance, Zimbabwean national Blessing Bveni (33) claimed witnesses were lying about his involvement in the series of attacks in Table Mountain National Park.
Bveni stands accused of the deaths of Doug Notten and Ian McPherson, stabbed to death on a Silvermine mountain path in February and March 2018 respectively. He allegedly assaulted and robbed many more hikers. He is also accused of using a fake Zimbabwean passport to gain temporary asylum in SA.
McPherson’s mountain bike and cellphone were stolen from the scene of the crime and sold to local vendors in Masiphumelele, who claim Bveni sold it to them. According to Bveni, his friend Thulani had sold him McPherson’s bicycle and cellphone, and he then sold them to the vendors.
He has pleaded not guilty to counts of murder, attempted murder, assault, robberies and contraventions of the immigration act.
In his latest appearance at the Cape Town High Court on Wednesday [October 14] defence attorney Henk Carstens asked him if the allegations against him were true.
“No, they are lying. I have never seen them or even know where that place is,” Bveni replied.
He also claimed to not recognise any of the witnesses who had testified.
Picture: Unsplash
