Fingerprint clue emerges in Henderson murder trial

A SINGLE fingerprint was lifted from the cellphone that was found under the vehicle in which Kimberley businessman Jayson Afrique was fatally shot.

Several shots were fired as Afrique and his wife, Micayla, approached the driveway of their house in Black Street, New Park, on July 31, 2024, where Jayson shielded Micayla from the bullets.

The accused, Capital Guard Security director John-Ross Crossbery Henderson, reported his cellphone missing on August 1, 2024.

He is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, attempting to make a false report to the police, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

Sergeant Tshepo Mogoiwa from Provincial Crime Scene Investigations testified in the Northern Cape High Court this week that weighing scales were among the “strange things” found at the crime scene, which were sent to the Pretoria forensic laboratory as exhibits.

He added that the cellphone found under the vehicle rang before he placed it in an evidence bag.

“The impression of one fingerprint was found on the cellphone,” said Mogoiwa. 

He stated that many people were on the scene when he arrived.

“At that stage, we did not know who the suspect was.”

Mogoiwa admitted that the crime scene could have been contaminated when plastic containers were placed over the 10 cartridge cases.

A video that he had taken of the crime scene was played during court proceedings.

The defence argued that footage of how the scene was processed had been “hidden” from both the prosecution and the defence.

Mogoiwa explained that it had been included in the docket and that no one had requested access to it.

He added that the body of the deceased was never placed on the ground but was placed directly in a body bag before being loaded into the pathology van.

Shots were fired at close range

Captain Luvuyo Mlindazwe, a forensic ballistic analyst from the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory, stated that he examined photographs of the white Hilux bakkie.

He added that photographs requested from the Local Criminal Record Centre were not taken on the same day as the incident because the camera was “not on”.

“Only the left-hand side of the vehicle was damaged by bullet holes, and the windows were shattered. The deceased was shot at close range in the head and upper body while seated in the driver’s seat.”

Mlindazwe estimated that the shooter would have been about three metres from the target.

‘Attempts to alter video footage’

The human resources manager at Awie Botha Motors in Schmidtsdrift Road, Stephania Wilhemina Magdalena Bakker, indicated that Henderson, who was her neighbour, informed her that his cellphone had been lost or stolen while he was working on July 31, 2024.

“He said he had reported the cellphone as stolen and asked to check the video footage to see if he could trace it at the garage. The video captured Henderson climbing out of his bakkie at the garage and entering the convenience store.”

She stated that another person was seen on the video approaching Henderson inside the shop at around 10.27pm and motioning towards his bakkie.

“Henderson walked towards the person and spoke to him.”

Bakker said Henderson did not appear to take any items off the shelf and never went to the pay point before leaving the shop and driving in the direction of the Upington road.

She added that Henderson denied knowing the deceased.

“I knew the deceased, and I learnt that he had passed away the previous evening. Henderson said he did not know Jayson, although everyone knew him as he fixed swimming pools.”

Bakker indicated that Henderson asked her on three occasions whether the date and time of the video footage could be changed on the system to reflect the previous day.

“I told him that it is not possible, and he asked me if I was sure. He asked if IT people could do it. I told him that it is not possible, as it is essentially falsifying the footage.”

Application for access to exhibits

Henderson’s legal representative, Herholdt Robertson, submitted an application to be granted access to the vehicle and cellphone.

“I cannot cross-examine the ballistic expert if I do not have access to the exhibit,” Robertson said.

It was previously indicated that the vehicle had been repaired at the panel beaters and released to the owner.

State advocate Theunis Barnard indicated that he would inquire about the whereabouts of the exhibits but was still awaiting feedback from the investigating officer.

The case continues before Deputy Judge President Mmathebe Violet Phatshoane.