Source: All Africa
Genital mutilator-accused Peter Frederiksen made phone calls while he was being detained to threaten witnesses, a court heard on Friday.

Prosecutor Amanda Bester said the State opposed bail to the Danish national for several reasons, including the fact that was being investigated for his wife's murder and threatening phone calls two witnesses received.

Last week, part of his bail hearing was held in camera, reportedly to protect witnesses.

"There is no control on the movements of the accused, and also there are now two witnesses that now say they are scared," Bester said.

"He will not stand trial, and the reason for that is because he has no ties in South Africa. He deliberately failed to disclose information about his family in Denmark. He only provided us with information about his deceased wife and his children."

Bester added: "The reason we charge him with conspiracy to murder is because the deceased was killed in Lesotho and he managed to operate while in custody, and the phone calls that our witnesses received."

Frederiksen, dressed in a white t-shirt and green trousers sat in a packed court, amid a heavy police presence.

Dozens of African National Congress Women's League members lined the benches behind him.

'Nothing to hide'

Frederiksen's lawyer Nthama Litabe argued that the accused had nothing to hide and no witness would be intimidated.

"No witness would be intimidated because other than the wife who passed away, no-one can speak in his favour," he said.

On Thursday, Frederiksen took the stand in his bail application after pleading not guilty to nine charges including assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, manufacturing of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, conspiracy to murder and bigamy.

When Bester was cross-examining him, Frederiksen declined to comment on his wife's murder except to say: "You don't have any evidence that suggests I murdered my wife and I am not going to assist you."

His wife Anna Matseliso Molise was set to be a State witness before she was gunned down.

During a lunch break on Thursday, a member of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) Mapaseka Nkoane burst into tears and hurled insults at Frederiksen.

Frederiksen allegedly sliced off the sexual organs and kept them in a freezer as trophies.

His case was postponed to November 20 for a ruling on his bail application.

• South Africa