Judge slams psychologist’s evidence for being out of touch with reality.

Another psychologist who seems to be in a world all their own. Report from South Africa.

A judge trashed the testimony of a psychologist during pre-sentencing evidence of a man convicted of murdering a former senior official in the Premier’s office.

Judge Yusuf Ebrahim lashed out at East London-based psychologist Luyanda Mapekula in the Bhisho High Court yesterday for failing to read his judgment.

Mapekula was testifying during mitigation of sentence of Bonisile Grey, convicted last year of the premeditated murder of Siphiwe Mgoduso. Mgoduso was stabbed at a family member’s funeral in Mdantsane in July 2005.

Ebrahim said he was trying to establish the actual status of Grey’s mental condition after Mapekula testified his “psychology” had diminished prior, during and after the incident. “All I have been asking since (Tuesday) is (whether) the accused is suffering from mental illness or defect,” said Ebrahim.

Mapekula replied that Grey was under severe stress and depressed because of the disintegration of his family. “It is my view that his psychological state was compromised ... there should have been intervention in the form of psychiatric evaluation to return him into a normal state.”


Ebrahim said he could not understand why Mapekula was giving the court such an assessment because it did not seem to link with Grey’s argument that he acted in self-defence.

“Did you read the court’s judgment? Because you are relying on the accused’s version, which by the way this court has rejected. I have difficulty with the way you are speculating about (his mental state). You are acting solely on what the accused has told you.

“You have not read the court judgment and what other witnesses have told the court about the events that happened on the day.”

Mapekula admitted to Ebrahim that she did not interview Qaga – whom Grey regards as his wife – because the psychologist thought she would be hostile.

Sentencing will resume today.