PORT ELIZABETH, (ANA) – The mother of the 12-year-old slain schoolgirl, Aaliyah “Angel” Tee, broke down in tears in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Wednesday when she recalled a gunshot going off moments after her daughter had pleaded with two gunmen not to shoot them.
Candice Tee, wearing a bulletproof vest, testified for the second day in the murder trial of Nealon Redhouse, 18, and Deon Harmse, 24, accused of killing her daughter in June 2016.
The two are also charged with the attempted murder of her father, Edmund, who was wounded in the attack on their Barberry Street home in Bethelsdorp.
Since the incident, the Tee family has been in a witness protection programme with Tactical Response Team members once against lining the courtroom.
In her testimony on Wednesday, Tee said that after Redhouse and Harmse had gained entry through the back door, she heard several shots go off. She said she ran into the bathroom with her daughter while her husband, at that stage, was still at the back door.
Tee said she immediately opened the bathroom window and started screaming for help. She said the next moment when she turned around she saw Redhouse and Harmse standing “three steps away” in front of the washing machine inside the bathroom.
Tee told the court how she saw how Angel put her hands together in prayer and began begging the men, “please don’t shoot, please, don’t shoot”.
After that Tee said she grabbed Angel and they crouched down together at the toilet seat. Before kneeling down she said she saw Redhouse pointing a firearm at them. “I said Lord help us and at the same time I heard one of them saying ‘skiet my bra’ (shoot my brother).”
“We were kneeling at the toilet seat and I heard a shot go off and I passed out,” she said.
After Tee regained consciousness she said she tried to lift her head but was not sure if she had been shot. She then turned to the side and saw ‘Angel’ lying on the ground.
“I looked to my left and saw Aaliyah lying on the ground, I was on my knees. I took my hand and saw that there was blood coming out of her ear. I said ‘take her Lord, she is yours’.”
At this stage, Tee broke down in tears and court had to adjourn for her to compose herself. The court was also adjourned later when the interpreter also became too emotional.
Redhouse and Harmse have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, housebreaking with intent to commit murder and unlicensed possession of firearm and ammunition.
– African News Agency (ANA)
