A witness who claims to have heard two accused linked to the Atlantis Guest House murder say that they had shot a man, told the Northern Cape High Court that she had been threatened and had been on the run ever since.
FOLLOWING alleged threats after hearing two accused linked to the Atlantis Guest House murder allegedly state that they had shot a man, a witness told the Northern Cape High Court that she had been on the run ever since and intentionally avoided any contact with some of her friends.
Thirty-seven-year-old Alvina Honey testified from a secluded room at the court via live video in the trial of Derrick Fyvers and Marlon Koopman, who are accused of murdering 29-year-old Ashwinn Malan, who was gunned down at his mother’s guest house on the night of September 8, 2016.
Malan died after he was shot three times during what was at the time believed to have been a botched robbery.
Honey, who took the stand after a warrant of arrest was issued against her, told the court that she was not prepared to testify in the matter as there were threats made against her and her teenage child should she testify in the case.
She said she knew Koopman and frequently went to visit the place where he resided as she was friends with his girlfriend.
“I used to stay in Colville. We all used to go to Sonja’s house in Colville as it was the nicest yard in the street. I was friends with Sonja’s daughter Kimleigh, who stayed in a shack behind the main house with her boyfriend, Marlon Koopman. I have known Marlon since Grade 7. I also know Rahjendra Beukes. Levert van Wyk is younger than us and he was a family friend from Colville,” said Honey.
Honey said she was introduced to Fyvers by Sonja.
“I did not know Derrick until Sonja introduced us the Sunday before the incident of September 8, 2016. Derrick was with the ‘Oupa’ and Sonja introduced them to me, using my nickname ‘Meide’ during the introduction. Sonja told me that Derick and the Oupa were from Pretoria,” she said.
Honey said that things changed on September 8 after the men apparently returned from a guest house.
“On September 8, Derrick said he was going to see a girlfriend at a guest house … On the day of the incident, I saw Levert, Oupa, Marlon, Derrick and Awie standing next to the bakkie. They left in the bakkie, however, only Marlon, Oupa, Derrick and Awie returned. I do not know where Levert was. Awie was outside in the bakkie. Marlon entered the shanty first and he was holding his head and was red in the face. I asked him what was going on as he did not look good. He said that someone had lost their life.
“We were in shock and repeatedly asked what had happened. The next moment Derrick walked in and I then asked him what was going on. Derrick said someone came out of the room and he had to shoot them because he thought the person had a gun. We were all standing in shock.
“Then Sonja came into the shanty. Sonja sat on the bed and told Derrick that there was blood on his pants and tekkies. I also looked at the pants … He (Derrick) then went out of the shanty and shouted at Sonja to get him the pants and boots. Derrick then took the pants and tekkies and burned them. Sonja gave him the matches.
“During that time, Derrick received a phone call. Oupa was standing outside the shanty. After Derrick was done talking on the phone, he came into the shanty and told Marlon that they should go. I told him that Marlon was not going anywhere with him. He then said that if anyone should talk about anything that had transpired, he would kill that person. He then shouted at Sonja to bring his bag and he left with Oupa.”
Honey said she had left home after the incident and that the police had later managed to trace her.
“I had been away from home for two months before the police found me. I also had no contact with Sonja or anyone. I was afraid after hearing what Derrick had said. Also, I have never been in such a situation and did not want to be in this situation. This was the first time I experienced such things … I am not used to such things,” she said.
Honey added that she had never discussed the incident with her former friends.
“Sonja and I never discussed what happened on September 8, 2016. Sonja has since died, but I do not know how she died as I had no contact with her. The event that transpired made me feel like I should just be on my own. I had no contact and did not want to have contact with any of them as I do not want such things in my life. I just want this thing out of my life.”
The trial continues.
