"MONSTER" husband Frederick Gordon, who allegedly raped, beat and burnt his wife so badly that she nearly died, was forced to close his case yesterday after he failed to find witnesses to testify on his behalf.
Gordon, 42, faces charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and rape after he allegedly locked up his wife, Avril, 53, in their Forest Hill flat between December 2010 and March 2011, and tortured her.
The state led several witnesses last year, with all corroborating Avril's harrowing version of events.
The matter had been set down yesterday for Gordon's Legal Aid defence lawyer, Ramona van Vuuren, to call witnesses on his behalf.
But Van Vuuren told the Port Elizabeth Regional Court that after consulting with Gordon, they had decided to close the defence's case, consisting solely of Gordon's testimony.
The matter continues on April 16, after which magistrate Chris Kruger is expected to deliver judgment.
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