News

Matthews's killer in denial after appeal bid shot down

November 26, 2009 Edition 2

JOHANNESBURG: Leigh Matthews's killer, Donovan Moodley, will "stop at nothing" to have his life sentence overturned, he said yesterday, shortly after the High Court here dismissed his application to do just that.

"I will stop at nothing, leaving no legal means untried," he said in a hand-written statement given to journalists.

In it, he described himself as a "media favourite" and said it was his right to pursue justice. "I am not afraid to stand alone and fight, justice will come, I am stronger than ever."

In his application, Moodley had argued that the life sentence imposed on him four years ago by the now retired Judge Joop Labuschagne was harsh because the crime was not proved to have been premeditated.

After kidnapping Matthews, 21, in July 2004, Moodley held the Bond University student for several hours and took R50 000 ransom money from her father, Rob.

He then shot and killed her before dumping her naked body in an open field in Walkerville.

Labuschagne, who returned from retirement to hear the application, found that the life sentence was indeed suitable for Moodley. - Sapa