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Witness describes gangsters' plot to kill her in bid to prevent testimony in murder trial.(News)

Article from: Cape Times (South Africa) Article date: November 19, 2008

BYLINE: KAREN BREYTENBACH

THE star witness against four men from Eerste River allegedly involved in the murder of a 28s gangster's baby in November 2006 has told the Cape High Court that two of the men had plotted to kill her before her testimony could send them to jail.

Elverencia Pennings, 22, was unflinching in her testimony against her former boyfriend, Llewellyn "Mugabe" Soldaat, who is the father of her two children, and his friends, Jacobus "Tokkie" Cloete, Brendan "Tottie" Faas and Ian Jacobs.

The men have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted ...

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Court Hears of Yacht Couple's Final Moments

Posted Oct 17, 08 6:52 AM CDT in Crime & Courts 

Court Hears of Yacht Couple's Final Moments
Source: AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi

(Newser) – A prosecution witness has given a California court chilling details of how he and two accomplices murdered an Arizona couple at sea, ABC News reports. Alonso Machain said he, accused ringleader  and former child actor Skylar Deleon, and another man forced the retired couple to sign their yacht over to them, then blindfolded them with duct tape, tied them to the yacht's anchor and pushed it overboard.

"They were basically yanked—yanked into the ocean," said Machain, who is cooperating with prosecutors in a deal to avoid Death Row. Machain, who fled to Mexico after the murders but voluntarily returned to admit his guilt, said the gang then headed for shore—with one opening a beer while another fished. A jury will decide next week if Deleon, whose lawyer has already admitted his client took part in the killings, should get the death penalty.

Source: ABC News

More about:  murder • murder trial • yachts • murder plot

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Ex-Actor Admits Killing Pair in Calif. Over Yacht

Confesses he lashed them to anchor at sea in order to steal boat

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Oct 8, 08 6:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - The lawyer for a former child actor admitted in court yesterday that his client was part of a gang that lashed a couple to an anchor and pushed them into the sea in order to steal their yacht, reports the Los Angeles Times . Skylar Deleon, who played bit parts as a kid, admitted his role in a defense bid to avoid the death penalty. More »

More about:  murder • murder trial • yachts • murder plot • Skylar Deleon

 Yacht Killer Guilty on All Counts 

Former child actor may now be sentenced to death

Orange County Register (Calif.) Orange County Register (Calif.) Oct 21, 08 4:42 AM CDT
(Newser) - A former bit-part child actor has been found guilty of murdering a couple by tying them to an anchor and throwing them overboard off the California coast in a plot to steal their yacht, the Orange County Register reports. The jury must now decide if Skylar Deleon, also found guilty of cutting a man's throat in an unrelated murder, should get the death penalty or a life sentence. More »

More about:  crime • death penalty • murder trial • yachts • murder plot • guilty verdict • Skylar Deleon

 Jealousy 
 Blamed in 
 Hudson 
 Murders  

Suspect upset that estranged wife dating: prosecutors

Associated Press Associated Press Dec 3, 08 4:56 PM CST
(Newser) - Prosecutors have pinned a motive on Jennifer Hudson's brother-in-law, alleging today that he killed her family members out of anger that his estranged wife was dating someone else, reports the AP. William Balfour—who has been charged with the murders of Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew—confronted Julia Hudson at the family home the morning of the slayings. The couple left the home together, then he returned alone, prosecutors say. More »

More about:  murder • marriage • Jennifer Hudson • murder trial • suspect • William Balfour • motive

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Trial starting in couple's yacht deaths: ; Prosecutors seek death for ex-child... (Charleston Daily Mail)

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