Danish mutilation suspect dismisses murder charge in court
AFP
November 13, 2015, 3:34 am
Bloemfontein (South Africa) (AFP) - A Danish man accused of mutilating women spoke publicly for the first time in a South African court Thursday, requesting bail and denying allegations he conspired to murder his wife.
Peter Frederiksen, a 63-year-old gun shop owner, was arrested in September after police investigators found over 10 frozen female clitorises, surgical equipment and pornographic photographs of children at his Bloemfontein townhouse.
His wife, 28-year-old Anna Matseliso Molise, was to have been the state's key witness against him but she was gunned down in October outside her house in Maseru, capital of neighbouring Lesotho.
Prosecutor Amanda Bester said Frederiksen, who allegedly had a cell phone in prison, conspired to murder his wife because she "knew too much" and that he intimidated other state witnesses while behind bars.
"You do not have any evidence regarding my wife's death in Lesotho, so I suggest you stop that," said Frederiksen from the witness stand during his bail hearing at Bloemfontein Magistrate Court.
Frederiksen said he did not take pornographic photographs of children and that he and his wife used the surgical equipment to do cosmetic body piercings.
"I had some pictures of women who were naked, but I definitely don't think it's porn," he said.
Wearing a grey long-sleeve top, Frederiksen became emotional when he recounted hearing about his wife's death while in prison.
"After I heard my wife had passed away, it changed everything in my life," he said, his eyes brimming with tears.
The couple had two children together.
- Genitals in freezer -
Frederiksen faces several charges, including two counts of conspiracy to commit murder -- one in connection with his wife's death -- three counts of assault, two of bigamy, and production and distribution of child pornography.
He also faces charges in connection with the illegal removal of human tissue.
Along with the genital parts found in his freezer, police searching his house discovered diaries from 2004 recounting the genital mutilation of women, and also found anaesthetics as well as pieces of dried female genitalia on a hook.
Frederiksen has in the past pleaded guilty to illegally transporting elephant tusks.
Last week, the state argued that Frederiksen should be denied bail, saying he was in South Africa on fraudulent documents.
The court's public gallery was packed with members of the African National Congress Women's League, the ruling party's women's wing, who have attended the hearing to protest violence against women.
The case has shocked residents in Bloemfontein.
"He's friendly, nothing seems wrong with him," said Hendrik Visagie, a 27-year-old clerk who works next door to Frederiksen's gunshop.
"I was shocked."
South Africa has legislation prohibiting female circumcision, although it is not a widespread practise in the country, according to UNICEF.
The prosecution and defence are expected to make their final bail arguments on Friday, when a date for the bail ruling may be set.
