Nigerian Olympian denies killing South African woman

Monye was arrested in 2011 for the murder of Chanelle Henning.

A Nigerian Olympian, Ambrose Monye, insisted before a South African court that he did not give instructions for the killing of a South African woman, Chanelle Henning.

Ms. Henning, 26, died in a shooting in Faerie Glen on November 8, 2011, shortly after dropping her child at a crèche. The state of Pretoria alleged that Mr. Monye and his co-accused, Andre Gouws, conspired with former policemen, Gerhardus du- Plessis and Willem Pieterse, in the murder of Henning. Messrs. Du Plessis and Pieterse are serving 18 years imprisonment after confessing their roles in the murder.

Messrs. Monye and Gouws, pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge of conspiracy to murder Henning.

The state prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, in final submissions in trial of Mr. Monye in the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, said that he believed the accused was involved in Ms. Henning’s murder.

Mr. Nel said Mr. Gouws wanted someone killed and he asked Mr. Monye to assist him. He narrated how Mr. Monye met Mr. Pieterse who agreed to carry out the killing.

Mr. Nel said Mr. Monye introduced Mr. Gouws to Messrs. Pieterse and Du Plessis on November 2, 2011. He said Mr. Monye insisted that the two should follow Mr. Gouws to Ms. Henning’s house and workplace.

Mr. Monye however, denied any involvement in the conspiracy and murder.

“My Lord, I never gave instructions to anybody to carry out any illegal action. They followed Gouws willingly,” he told the court.

Mr. Nel also explained how Messrs. Pieterse and Du Plessis failed to kill Ms. Henning days before she was murdered, and how Mr. Monye arranged a meeting at Romans Pizza in Sunnyside, Pretoria, to iron out the problem.

“My lord there was nothing like that. I never arranged a meeting for such things,” Mr. Monye said.

Mr. Monye also denied threatening Mr. Du Plessis when he allegedly said that he was no longer taking part in the murder. The prosecutor referred to cell phone records showing calls between Messrs Monye and Pieterse and between Messrs Monye and Gouws on the day of the murder.

He said Mr. Monye demanded payment for the murder on November 8, 2011, and Mr. Gouws withdrew R44.000 (about N 792,000) from his bank account on that same day. He said few days later, R31.500 (about N 558,000) was deposited into Mr. Monye’s account. Mr. Nel said this was payment for the murder.

“My lord, I never demanded any money from anybody,” Mr. Monye said.

With conclusion of cross-examination by the prosecution, Daan Mostert, counsel for Mr. Gouws, will question Monye at next hearing on July 26.

Mr. Monye was track-star who represented Nigeria at the 1988 Soeul Olympics where he won two silver medals.

(NAN)