By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
File:Convicted murderer Donovan Moodley at the South Gauteng High Court on 26 January 2012 in Johannesburg. Picture: Gallo Images.
Leigh Matthews family is contesting the parole application of their daughter’s killer, Donovan Moodley.
Moodley was convicted for the kidnapping and murder of the university student in 2004. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder, 15-years for kidnapping and 10-years for extortion.
Matthews’s parents, Rob and Sharon, maintain that Moodley is a dangerous man and has never shown remorse for his actions.
Matthews, a student at Bond University, was abducted from the university’s parking lot on July 9, 2004. Moodley made contact with the family and demanded R50 000, which Rob dropped off near the Grassmere Toll Plaza.
Despite receiving the money, Moodley shot Matthews and dumped her body in an open field near the R82 highway in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg.
He had shot her four times. Her body was discovered by a municipal worker.
The Matthews family has previously expressed there are still various unanswered questions surrounding the death of their loved one.
Leigh’s mother, Sharon, said they still did not have the answers to date, adding Moodley still had “different stories” about where Leigh was held.
Rob added: “We heard another story now as to how Leigh’s body was handled. So, that is clearly not an individual that smacks of any kind of remorse.
“We were hoping to get some answers as to who else was involved. Overall, it has been a tough, tiring day.”
The family, however, was grateful for how the process was handled, adding the chairman of the parole board would recommend to Justice Minister Ronald Lamola that “to grant Moodley parole would be an insult to justice”.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told the media earlier Moodley had served the “minimum detention period”.
Once this has occurred, he has to be considered for placement, but consideration does not guarantee that a person is placed out.