Leigh Matthews (South Africa)

, the eve of her 21st birthday.

The subsequent arrest of Donovan Moodley three months after Leigh's kidnapping sparked a media frenzy, with the ensuing court case being one of the most closely followed in South African history

Leigh Matthews

Born on 8 July 1983, Leigh was born to Rob and Sharon Matthews, who at the time of Leigh's murder, lived in the fairly affluent Johannesburg suburb of Fourways, where she attended Bond University in Sandton, studying chartered accounting.

Leigh was described to be "charismatic and social" by her friends and family.

The Murder

Leigh was abducted from the parking lot at her college. Shortly after her kidnapping, local police embarked on a large-scale hunt, which caught the attention of the South African media. Shortly after the kidnapping, a ransom demand of R50,000 was made to Leigh's father, who dropped off the money. He was able to hold a short telephone conversation with her after that; it was to be their last communication.

Leigh's body was discovered by a grass-cutter in Walkerville, Johannesburg on 21 July 2004. An autopsy revealed that whilst she was found naked, save for some earrings, she had not been raped or sexually violated in any way. She had been found with a single bullet wound to the back of her head. Further investigation showed that it was possible that she had been 'frozen' or refrigerated, although this was never proven in court.

The seemingly senseless murder sparked a nationwide and international outrage, with posters of Leigh Matthew's photo becoming common around the country.

Donovan Moodley

Leigh's killer, 24-year-old Donovan Moodley, was arrested nearly three months after the body was discovered. He was also a student at Bond University, but was not socially acquainted with Leigh. Police caught up to and arrested Moodley in Alberton. He appeared on charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion in the Randburg Magistrates Court in October 2004.

In his initial version of events, Moodley claimed to be driven by a need for money. He apparently approached Leigh in the campus parking lot, purportedly to ask for a lift. They both rode in her car together, where Moodley then kidnapped her. Shortly after he extorted the R50,000 from Leigh's parents, Moodley claimed that he was unsure what to do with Leigh herself, and then took her to a deserted field in Walkerville, and shot her once in the back of the head. He then burned his clothes to hide evidence.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment whilst many South Africans called for the death penalty to be reinstated. Many South Africans took to wearing white ribbons in support for Leigh's family during the highly-publicised trial.

Appeals

Moodley has maintained an infrequent handle on the South African media's radar by appealing his sentence. In his first appeal in November 2005, Moodley appealed to the Supreme Court, requesting a retrial.

In June 2006, Moodley appealed once more, claiming that he had worked with co-conspirators in the murder, and that the police had failed to bring them to book. He also claimed to have been framed.

References

* [http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national&articleid=246333 Find Leigh Matthews Website]
* [http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national&articleid=246333 How Leigh Matthews was Killed - Mail & Guardian Online]
* [http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2004/07/25/news/news02.asp Police Expect Leigh Arrest This Week - Sunday Times]
* [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=&art_id=vn20060628145724134C844915 Moodley writes application for retrial - IOL]
* [http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/topstories/topstories1097038493.aspx Leigh's killer driven by greed - Sunday Times]