Najwa's phone calls linked to middleman

Najwa and three other people are accused of killing Taliep Petersen

A police officer who was part of the team investigating the murder of theater legend Taliep Petersen has highlighted the frequency of telephone calls between the accused, Najwa Petersen, and the man she allegedly hired to recruit men to kill her husband.

Detective Captain Kenneth Speed from the provincial organised crime unit was testifying in the Taliep Petersen murder trial at the Cape High Court. Speed says over a period of four days, Najwa called Faheem Hendricks more than 50 times. Captain Speed told the court that from the 13 of December 2006 up until after the murder there had been numerous calls to Faheem Hendricks. Hendricks has turned state witness and is currently in protective custody.

On the night of the murder Najwa phoned Hendricks thrice shortly before the murder. The court earlier heard that when the widow had to hand in her phone to the police for investigations, she had deleted the calls from her phone, but it still showed up on her list of itemised billing.

Four witnesses to testify
Meanwhile, the state plans to call only four more witnesses in the trial. Lead prosecutor Shareen Riley made the announcement when the Cape High Court adjourned for the day yesterday.

She said the four would include staffers from phone companies Vodacom and Telkom, a crime mapping expert from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and investigating Officer Captain Joe Dryden. The trial continues today. - Additional reporting by Sapa