Pretoria – So-called “Modimolle monster” Johan Kotzé has told the North Gauteng High Court he realised he had committed a crime when his ex-wife was assaulted and her son killed.

Judge Bert Bam asked Kotzé on Friday whether he knew he had committed an offence against Ina Bonnette.

“Yes, I believe so,” Kotzé replied.

Bam asked him the same question about Bonnette’s son Conrad. Kotzé said he had realised what he had done when he heard news reports on Conrad’s death while he was on the run.

“Condrad’s thing upset me terribly and I could not believe I shot him dead.”

Kotzé is accused of orchestrating the gang rape of his former wife and murdering his stepson Conrad, 19, in his rented home in Modimolle on 3 January 2012.

Bonnette was still married to Kotzé, but lived in her own flat at the time.

Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane, and Frans Mphaka are also accused of kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette that day.

Adultery

On Thursday, Kotzé told the court Bonnette’s “adultery” was treasonous.

He was responding to a question by prosecutor Retha Meintjes. She asked about his emotions on the night he found out about his then wife’s infidelity. He went to a dance on New Year’s Eve 2011 and saw her lovingly interact with another man.

Kotzé said he had many questions about her fidelity during their marriage and observing what he saw on New Year’s Eve explained much to him.

Earlier Kotzé told the court he could not remember mutilating Bonnette’s breasts and genitals.