Best baby killer claims he was hired
* The man who claims he was hired to shoot Melissa Shelver took the stand in the East London High Court last week, saying that go-between Andile Tukani had instructed him to kill accused David Bests pregnant ex-girlfriend and the baby she was carrying.
He wanted me to kill the girlfriend and the girlfriends child. Andile said I should shoot her three times, twice in the stomach and once in the head, said Masumpa, according to the Daily Dispatch. He said he never carried out this final order. I dont feel happy about what I did. I feel so guilty. Id like to talk to Melissa ... to say Im very sorry, he said. Masumpa also testified that Best approached him two weeks ago in the police cells, offering him money in exchange for assuming sole responsibility for the crime. He said I should not implicate him. He said hell pay me money and (asked) how much did I want. Earlier, the court heard transcripts of a taped conversation between Best and Tukani that took place on the day of their arrest, February 23 last year. The dialogue includes details of how the pair would destroy evidence and arrange for Tukani and Masumpa to flee town. Bests defence advocate Terry Price has contested the reliability of the transcript, arguing that it was selective and not a true reflection as there were parts of the conversation missing. Full Daily Dispatch report