Murder suspect says it was self-defence

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Joyce Ngenja (55), accused of killing her husband, Billy Karelse (63), said she did not mean to hurt anyone.

Ngenja stabbed Karelse with a knife on Sunday evening 19 April, at their home in Blom se Kamp.

Ngenja and other witnesses said Ngenja was busy preparing food, when Karelse got aggressive and threw the pot, filled with their dinner, on the floor. Ngenja alleged that Karelse was under the influence of alcohol when he grew aggressive towards her.

"I went to sit on the porch, preparing another pot of food, when he came out of the house and yelled at me. He turned aggressive again, and I stood up and lifted my arm with the knife to defend myself," she explained.

She said that she has never hurt anyone before and is not a violent person. "What happened is a mystery. All I know is that he was stabbed in the chest. I don't know if he fell into the knife, but I did not mean to stab him."

The incident is described as self-defense against domestic violence by witnesses, who said Karelse was aggressive and hurt Ngenja on previous occasions.

She appeared in the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate's Court on Tuesday 21 April, on a charge of murder. Ngenja was released and must appear in court again on 8 July.

The house where the murder took place.