Cold Case Confession

Alex Eliseev

Description

This is the opening line of a letter hidden under a carpet for a decade. The chilling words are followed by a confession to a murder committed nearly
13 years earlier. The chance discovery of the letter on 31 March 2012 reawakens a case long considered to have run cold, and a hunt begins for the men who kidnapped and killed Betty Ketani – and were convinced they had gotten away with it. The investigation spans five countries, with a worldrenowned
DNA laboratory called in to help solve the forensic puzzle. The author of the confession letter might have feared death, but he is very much alive, as are others implicated in the crime.
Betty Ketani, a mother of three, came to Johannesburg in search of better prospects for her family. She found work cooking at one of the city’s most popular restaurants, and then one day she mysteriously disappeared. Those out to avenge her death want to bring closure to Betty’s family, still agonising over her fate all these years later.
The storyline would not be out of place as a Hollywood movie – and it’s all completely true. Written by the reporter who broke the story, Cold Case Confession goes behind the headlines to share exclusive material gathered in four years of investigations, including the most elusive piece of the puzzle: who would want Betty Ketani dead, and why?

Sujets

• Droit privé
• Droit privé
• Droit privé
• Droit privé
• Criminal Law
• Droit et juridique
• True crime
• General officer
• LAW
• Murder
• General
• Thriller
• Droit pénal
• droit pénal
• Droit pénal
• Droit pénal
• Droit pénal

Informations

• Publié par: Pan Macmillan South Africa
• Date de parution: 28 avril 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781770105553
• Langue: English

Extrait

PRAISE FOR COLD CASE CONFESSION
‘This case is like an Agatha Christie whodunit: abduction, murder and a confession.’
– Carte Blanche
‘Wonderful, evocative and vivid writing. Eliseev is a very exciting new talent.’
– Peter James
‘This book has become a South African classic.’
– Jenny Crwys Williams
‘Johannesburg is often described as a city of immigrants, and Eliseev and Ketani are two eloquent examples. One has given voice to another. It seems pleasingly fitting.’
– Sue Blaine, Business Day
‘One of the most electric and captivating legal battles in South African history.’
– Get It magazine
‘An intriguing and heartfelt read.’
– Patricia McCracken, Farmers Weekly


Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Taco Kuiper Fund for Investigative Journalism based at Wits Journalism, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for covering some of the costs associated with this book.


COLD CASE CONFESSION
Unravelling the Betty Ketani Murder
With a new final chapter and updated Epilogue added for this edition
Alex Eliseev
MACMILLAN


Proceeds from this book will be shared with Betty Ketani’s children and her brother Mankinki Kula.
First published in 2016
by Pan Macmillan South Africa
This edition published in 2017
by Pan Macmillan South Africa
Private Bag X19
Northlands
Johannesburg
2116
www.panmacmillan.co.za
ISBN 978-1-77010-554-6
e- ISBN 978-1-77010-555-3
© 2016, 2017 Alex Eliseev
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Editing by Sean Fraser
Proofreading by Lisa Compton
Design and typesetting by Triple M Design
Cover design by Anastasya Eliseeva


The role-players
Ndaba Bhebe Relative of a former Cranks waitress. Ndaba was abducted and tortured in 1999. The hidden confession describes this kidnapping.
Vuyani (Ronnie) Bikauri Betty Ketani’s brother who reported her missing in 1999.
Ana Bilić One of the state’s international DNA experts, based at the ICMP laboratory in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Claudio Bisso Bones expert called out to the excavation of Betty Ketani’s grave.
Teunis Briers Policeman involved in the final excavation of Betty Ketani’s grave.
Herman Broodryk Lead prosecutor in the Betty Ketani murder trial. A Senior Counsel, he is one of the most senior state advocates in his jurisdiction.
Blanche Brown Wife of Conway Brown.
Conway Brown Friend of Carrington Laughton. The confession was found at his home, as was the shallow grave in which Betty Ketani’s body was buried.
André Coetzer Friend and former business associate of Carrington Laughton. He is mentioned in the confession relating to the 1999 Hillbrow abductions.
Warren Dawson State witness who testified in relation to Carrington Laughton’s alibi.
Rachel Dube Former Cranks employee, and the last known person to see Betty Ketani alive.
Mark Eardley Owner of the farm on which Betty Ketani died after being left inside an old bus on a winter’s night. Not implicated in the kidnapping and murder.
Sandor Egyed Friend of Carrington Laughton, and the man to whom the confession is addressed. Resides in New Zealand.
Alan Fagan Yeoville police commander who interviewed Carrington Laughton during his arrest.
Keith Green (Doc) Former Scorpions undercover agent who investigated the Betty Ketani murder following the discovery of the confession.
Cecil Greenfield Defence’s handwriting expert who testified on behalf of Carrington Laughton.
Karyn Griffin Mark Lister’s ex-girlfriend, and state witness who testified in relation to Carrington Laughton’s alibi.
Laurence Hodes Senior Counsel and experienced lawyer who was Carrington Laughton’s defence advocate.
Betty Tandiwe Ketani Mother of three, kidnapped and murdered in May 1999. Worked as a cook at Cranks restaurant in Johannesburg.
Bulelwa Ketani Betty Ketani’s eldest daughter.
Lusanda Ketani Betty Ketani’s youngest daughter. She was seven months old when her mother vanished.
Thulani Ketani Betty Ketani’s son and the oldest of her three children.
Namika Kowlas Prosecutor in the Betty Ketani trial. Herman Broodryk’s junior.
Mankinki Kula Betty Ketani’s older brother.
Anel Laughton Third wife of Carrington Laughton.
Candice Laughton First wife of Carrington Laughton. Her attempted suicide in 1999 is mentioned in the confession.
Carrington Laughton Former private investigator and the alleged author of the confession found under the carpet. He denies murdering Betty Ketani.
Jayne Laughton Second wife of Carrington Laughton. She testified against him in relation to an envelope of photographs she was asked to keep safe on his behalf.
Mark Lister Former policeman residing in Australia. Hidden confession mentions him in relation to the Betty Ketani murder and other crimes.
Jabez Loubser (JB) Friend and business partner of Keith Green, and private investigator who investigated the Betty Ketani murder following the discovery of the confession.
Jeffrey Marshall Young man who discovered the hidden confession under a carpet at his parents’ house.
Shama Marshall Involved in the discovery of the confession. Jeffrey Marshall’s mother. At the time, engaged to Werner Nortjé.
Thabang Mathopo Carrington Laughton’s defence advocate and Laurance Hodes’s junior.
Ruth Mncube Former Cranks employee, who escaped a kidnapping in June 1999 and is mentioned in the confession.
Malemleli Mpofu Victim named in the confession but never found.
Eric Neeteson-Lemkes Owner of Cranks restaurant and Betty Ketani’s former boss. Carrington Laughton claims Eric framed him for murder.
Monique Neeteson-Lemkes Eric Neeteson-Lemkes’s daughter. Hidden confession mentions her in relation to the Betty Ketani murder and other crimes. Resides in Australia.
André Neethling Senior policeman who assisted the Yeoville detectives investigating the Betty Ketani murder.
Werner Nortjé Involved in the discovery of the confession. At the time, engaged to Jeffrey Marshall’s mother. Family spokesman and representative in court.
Thomas Parsons One of the state’s international DNA experts. He works at the ICMP, a world-renowned laboratory in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Melanie Pienaar Police forensics expert based at the Victim Identification Centre, and involved in the final exhumation of Betty Ketani’s grave.
Gerhard Pretorius Senior police detective based in Yeoville, involved in the early stages of the Betty Ketani murder investigation.
Natvarial Ranchod High Court judge who presided over the Betty Ketani murder trial.
Carel Ranger Former policeman implicated in kidnapping Betty Ketani from hospital. Also accused of being involved in a spate of violent Cranks-related abductions in Hillbrow in 1999.
David Ranger Implicated in kidnapping Betty Ketani from hospital, and still serving as a policeman at the time of his arrest.
Leonie Ras Head of the police’s Victim Identification Centre. She suggested that the three small bones be sent abroad for DNA tests.
Leon Rehrl Friend of Carrington Laughton, and ex-husband of Carrington’s second wife, Jayne. He testified in Carrington Laughton’s defence.
Dirk Reinecke Friend of Carrington Laughton, and a crucial link in how Carrington’s confession came to be in Conway Brown’s possession.
Lufuno Sono Detective at Yeoville police station, and initial investigating officer in the Betty Ketani murder case.
David Swanepoel Defence’s DNA expert.
Paul Toft-Nielsen Childhood friend of Carrington Laughton, and implicated in digging up Betty Ketani’s grave and disposing of her body.
Themba Tshabalala Married to a former Cranks waitress, and the victim of several 1999 kidnappings linked to the restaurant.
Marco van der Hammen Police handwriting expert who examined the confession.
James van Rooyen Former police detective who investigated the 1999 Hillbrow abductions linked to Cranks restaurant.
Gerhard van Wyk Police detective based at the Hawks, and the second and final investigating officer in the Betty Ketani murder case.
Roelof van Wyk Defence advocate representing Carel and David Ranger.
Warren Williams Hidden confession mentions him in relation to the Betty Ketani murder. He denies any involvement and, due to lack of evidence, was not arrested or prosecuted.
Howard Woolf Carrington Laughton’s instructing attorney.
The full confession letter can be found in the Appendix .


PART ONE
An unfinished life


‘When Death comes cloaked in mystery he is terrible indeed.’
— AMBROSE BIERCE, ‘MY FAVORITE MURDER’


1.
The truth … according to Conway Brown
The R59 highway out of Johannesburg enters another gentle bend as Conway spots the blue, red and white glow of the Engen 1-Stop petrol station and the dark outline of the Blockhouse watchtower, a lingering ghost from a forgotten battlefield, once used to guard a railway running across the Highveld.
The city lights are long gone and there’s little out here except maize and dairy farms, empty windswept fields and slivers of low-lying hills off in the distance.
Conway Brown is behind the wheel of his wife’s second-hand Uno, almost 40 kilometres out of town. He has no idea why Carrington Laughton has called him out this late in the evening.
In the boot, just in case it’s a roadside emergency, Conway has packed his toolbox and tow ro