Court hears details of 3 axe murders

Pietermaritzburg - Dressed in black and using a cellphone light, a man allegedly entered a rondavel and axed a woman to death, a KwaZulu-Natal court heard on Thursday.

Rosemarie Xaba was bludgeoned to death as she rose from her bed, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg heard.

The assailant, who never said a word as he killed her, then went a short distance and allegedly similarly battered her parents, Bonakile and Siphiwe Xaba. They lived near Ematimotolo in the Greytown district.

The attack on the night of 23 December last year, was described by Rosemarie Xaba's brother Philani Xaba, 21.

The accused, Nkonsi Nkonzo Xulu, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the three murders, saying he spent the night in the home of his brother about 1km from the rondavels of the three victims.

Philani Xaba said Xulu used to assault his sister when he brought money for her, and his relations with Xulu were not good as a result.

Defence counsel Ishy Khan said Xulu would say he and Rosemarie were in a love relationship and he would deny assaulting her.

Judge Anton van Zyl is hearing the case, which resumes next week.