Cousin reveals ‘murder confession’ in ex-wife shooting

A FAMILY member of murder-accused Alberto Matthews testified in the Northern Cape High Court this week that he “confessed” to shooting his ex-wife, Mandy Bailey.

According to the charges, Matthews was found in possession of 28 rounds of ammunition and a firearm with an obliterated serial number at the time of his arrest.

The incident took place on December 27, 2024, when Matthews allegedly broke into Bailey’s house in Main Road, Beaconsfield, despite a protection order she had obtained against him.

He allegedly fired several shots at Bailey in her bedroom, in the presence of her nine-year-old daughter. He also allegedly pointed a firearm at Bailey’s brother, Wesley Bailey, and her older daughter, Erin Cupido.

Kim Taaibos told the court that Matthews, who is her cousin, jumped over the fence of the house where she was staying in Beaconsfield and knocked on her door at around 5.30am on December 28, 2024.

“I saw reports on social media about the shooting and was aware that Mandy had obtained an interdict against him. I opened the door, and the accused held his head and told me that he had ‘caught on sh*t’. He explained that he was very angry and had just gone to talk to her. He told me that when he went inside the house, Mandy asked him, ‘Alberto, what are you doing here?’”

She added that Matthews informed her that Mandy had covered her head with a bed comforter.

“He told me that he pointed the gun at her when she peeked her head out and fired the first shot. He said that she jumped up and ran to the en suite bathroom, where he fired the second shot. Mandy fell in the bathroom. Her brother came into the bedroom when he heard the shots, whereupon Matthews pointed a firearm at him. Wesley ducked, and the gun jammed when the accused tried to fire it.”

Taaibos said Matthews told her that he ran away and left his car at a garage in New Park.

“He said that he got rid of the firearm and that it was no longer in his possession. He asked if he could sleep on the couch. He took off his blue K-Way jacket, rolled it up and slept on it. We duly informed the police of the incident.”

She indicated that Matthews later got up and smoked a cigarette on the porch.

“He took his jacket with him. The accused was found in possession of the gun and a white sock containing bullets.”

Forensic pathologist Dr Lemaine Fouché said Bailey sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body, and that her body was covered in bruises.

Ballistic evidence links cartridges to firearm

Ballistics expert Warrant Officer Sematla Gloudia Phela from the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria testified that the two 7.65mm cartridge cases found at the scene were fired from a semi-automatic pistol.

The legal representative for the accused, Advocate Obatlile Maroke, argued that Matthews had gone to collect his belongings at Bailey’s home. He claimed that Matthews entered through an open gate and knocked on the door.

“The deceased opened the door, and his motor vehicle was parked in the garage. He denies that he shot the deceased. He said that a struggle ensued between him and Wesley and that Mandy intervened in the fight, when a gunshot went off. The accused realised that the deceased (Bailey) was shot. He managed to let go of Wesley and ran away,” Maroke submitted.

Advocate Leshnee Pillay closed the State’s case on Wednesday.

The case continues before Judge Danie Olivier.