Cross-dresser ‘high during murder’

Share this article: Share Tweet Share Share Share Email Share

Cape Town - A Delft man has pleaded guilty to killing 65-year-old Graham Flax in his Sea Point flat while he was under the influence of drugs. But Jerome Benjamin, a 29-year-old cross-dresser who also goes by the name Jade September, said although he was intoxicated it did not affect his judgement. On Thursday, Benjamin pleaded guilty to murdering Flax in his Costa Bravo flat in Beach Road on March 3 last year. In the plea, read out in the Cape Town Regional Court, Benjamin said he met Flax on an internet site and agreed to meet face to face. That night Flax had picked him up at his house in Delft and they returned to Sea Point. “The deceased went to sleep and I joined him about 20 minutes later. But I couldn’t fall asleep because I was under the influence of drugs. I went to the kitchen and took a bottle of whisky. I went to the bedroom and hit the deceased over the head with the bottle,” Benjamin said in the plea.

Flax awoke and a struggle ensued. Benjamin said he saw a knife and stabbed Flax. “I tried to tie him up but he was struggling too much. He tried to run away and shout for help. I then stabbed him numerous times in his neck and chest. I can’t remember how many times I stabbed him,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin said he covered Flax’s body with a duvet and got dressed.

He admitted that he stole Flax’s laptop and Blackberry cellphone which he sold in the CBD in exchange for money to buy drugs.

Benjamin had also tried to steal Flax’s Corsa bakkie but did not get away because a security guard saw him struggling to reverse the vehicle. He handed the key to the security guard and left.

Benjamin went home and, after speaking to his adopted sister about the incident, she convinced him to turn himself in to police. “I admit I unlawfully killed the deceased as it was not necessary to kill him in the manner in which I did,” he said.

The court heard that Benjamin had previous convictions for the illegal possession of drugs and theft.

Benjamin is due back in court on Tuesday when Flax’s relatives are expected to testify in aggravation of sentence.

[email protected]

Cape Argus