Man 'thrown to lions' prayed before death, court told

The trial of three South Africans accused of killing a former farm worker by throwing him into a den of lions heard today that the victim closed his eyes and prayed before his grisly death.

The trial resumed after a delay due to the sickness of one of the defendants.

Defendant Simon Mathebula said he saw his employer, white farmer Mark Scott-Crossley, walk up to Nelson Chisale and kick him on an open wound and point his gun at him.

Mathebula said Scott-Crossley told Chisale to pray.

“I looked at Nelson at that stage … and I saw him closing his eyes and praying,” he said.

Richard Mathebula, Simon Mathebula – who are not related – and Scott-Crossley, have all pleaded not guilty to murdering Chisale on January 31 last year. They are accused of feeding him to lions.

Chisale was a former worker on the farm but was sacked by Scott-Crossley. He was allegedly killed after he returned to collect some pots and other belongings.

Scott-Crossley has claimed he played no part in the assault or subsequent death of Chisale and that he only helped dispose of the body after being threatened by Richard Mathebula.