'We killed our uncle for refusing to give us money for drugs – after smoking tablets used to treat HIV-positive people.’

This was the testimony of cousins Jonathan and Houston Peters in the Johannesburg High Court after initially pleading not guilty to the murder of Manuel Das Moses (76) on 15 July 2006. In their revised plea explanation, the two told the court they got high on a *censored*tail of drugs and a bottle of whisky before asking their uncle for money for more drugs – and killed him when he refused, says a report in The Star. Jonathan said he, Houston and a 17-year-old boy – who has turned state witness – were all drug addicts and had smoked drugs on the day before the attack on the pensioner. In his affidavit, Jonathan said they were heavily under the influence of cocaine and had also smoked two to three boxes of Retrovir tablets, a drug used to treat people with HIV. The three changed their minds about their not-guilty plea soon after the state witness testified against them, changing their plea from culpable homicide to murder. The case was postponed until 26 March for a probation officer's report.
Full report in The Star (subscription needed)