Pretoria – The State on Tuesday questioned the report of a clinical psychologist which states that the actions of the so-called “Modimolle monster” were irrational.

Prosecutor Retha Meintjes cross-examined clinical psychologist Tertia Spangenberg in the Pretoria High Court regarding her report on Johan Kotze.

Meintjes put it to Spangenberg that Kotze’s alleged actions – giving orders to his co-accused, walking to a closet to collect tools to mutilate Ina Bonnette’s genitals, pulling the trigger, and reloading the gun – appeared to be rational.

“These are complex actions,” Meintjes said.

Spangenberg agreed, based on the State’s version of events.

“Given the State’s evidence it may be rational.”

She added, however, that to actually give these orders was not rational.

Kotze is accused of orchestrating the gang-rape of Bonnette and of murdering his stepson Conrad, 19, in his rented home in Modimolle on January 3, 2012. At the time Bonnette was still married to Kotze, but lived in her own flat.

Kotze’s co-accused – Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Frans Mphaka – are accused of kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette that day.

In her report, Spangenberg found Kotze was not accountable for his actions.

“I am of the opinion that Mr Kotze was not accountable for the alleged actions of which he stands accused,” she said last week.

“It is my opinion that the combination of Mr Kotze’s narcissistic personality disorder, superimposed on traumatic psychological injuries, combined with an unmanaged, long-standing, major depression and untreated and unresolved acute stress disorder, resulted in a state of psychological dissociation during his alleged criminal acts.” – Sapa