Chilling evidence in rapper’s murder trial

Johannesburg –When Pitch Black Afro, accused of murdering his wife Catherine Modisane, appeared at the Johannesburg High Court last Wednesday, a pathologist explained evidence illustrated by autopsy photos depicting injuries.

  The late wife of rap artist Pitch Black Afro, real name Thulani Ngcobo, is said to have died of severe head injuries inflicted with a blunt object, according to pathologist Dr Robert Ngude, who conducted a medico-legal examination of Catherine Modisane’s body after her death.   

  Ngude testified at the High Court during Ngcobo’s trial on a charge of murder.

  Modisane died at a Yeoville B&B in December  2018, allegedly at the hands of her husband.

  Upon request from prosecutor Matshidiso Moleko, Ngude explained the evidence illustrated by several autopsy photographs depicting injuries that ranged from head injuries to bruises on the thighs, hands and fingers and a black eye.

  “In my opinion those blows to the head were severe. My conclusion is that there was blunt force trauma to the head,” said Ngude.

    However, he qualified that the autopsy would not illustrate the force behind the head trauma. 

  “I do not have any scientific record to say a certain amount of power was used to cause the injuries,” Ngude said.

  According to Ngcobo’s advocate, Rian Greyling, Ngcobo plans to testify that he and Modisane were drunk during the fight. 

  Ngcobo claims to have binged on more than a litre of vodka, and also smoked dagga hours before the incident; and that Modisane had several ciders and smoked dagga too.