A NURSE left bound and gagged in the boot of her own car for ten days over Christmas was within hours of death when she was rescued, a court heard yesterday.
Magdeline Makola, 38, had been snatched from her home in Livingston, West Lothian, by failed asylum-seeker Justice Ngema, 35.
Ngema – who entered the country on a false passport – used her bank cards to fund a Christmas shopping spree while she lay shivering in sub-zero temperatures. He even attended Christmas Mass with his girlfriend's family.
Police eventually located the car in Airdire, Lanarkshire, after Ms Makola managed to make a small gap in the tape across her mouth and shouted for help when she heard footsteps.
Doctors found that her fingers were white and lifeless, her wrists, ankles and feet were cut, and she was suffering from dehydration that had affected her kidneys and circulation.
The court heard that if she had remained in the boot for another 12 to 24 hours, her "life would have been in real danger".
Incredibly, Ms Makola yesterday said she forgave her attacker, who pleaded guilty.
Justice Ngema, 35
"I feel no anger towards him, only pity. I wish him well in the future and I will pray for him," she said in a statement.
"Praying gave me a lot of strength and when the policeman opened the boot I was so happy my prayers had been answered."
Ms Makola told how, while locked in the boot, she noticed "one day was very quiet". She believed it was Christmas Day.
The advocate-depute, Alex Prentice, QC, told the High Court in Edinburgh that Ngema met Ms Makola, a nurse at the city's Royal Infirmary, briefly in 2004.
They never met again until he turned up unexpectedly at her home last year, asking to be allowed to do laundry and leave a suitcase.
Her ordeal began on 16 December, when Ngema arrived at Ms Makola's home and entered without being invited.
He grabbed her by the throat and told her: "I'm a professional in this job. I kill people. You shut up right now." He then held a knife to her and punched her.
Ms Makola said she was terrified Ngema was going to rape her. He wrapped tape around her eyes and mouth, and bound her hands and feet. Rope was put around her neck and she feared he intended to hang her.
He demanded her bank cards and PIN numbers. She initially gave false numbers, but was assaulted by Ngema before providing the correct numbers.
Ngema wrapped Ms Makola in a blanket and carried her out to her car, a red Vauxhall Astra. She tried to make a noise, and he took her back into the house, where he assaulted her again and warned her: "I told you not to disturb my job."
Ms Makola was bundled into the rear seat of the car, and driven away. During this time, Ngema took a phone call. Ms Makola heard him say: "Don't bully me. I'll give you your money."
Ngema left the car at one stage and Ms Makola began banging her head against the window in the hope of breaking it. However, her efforts set off the car alarm, and Ngema returned and punched her before bundling her into the boot.
Ngema then drove off, and Ms Makola had to rely on passing sounds to give clues to her location. At one stage, she thought she was at an airport as she could hear planes taking off and trolleys being pushed.
She was cold, wet and shivering, and began to lapse in and out of consciousness.
However, she recalled being parked at a spot where she could hear trains and a station Tannoy. The location was later identified as Drumgelloch, Airdrie.
Ms Makola was reported missing on 19 December when she failed to arrive at work. Police established that her bank card had been used in Chapelhall and Airdrie. Her car was seen on CCTV footage in Airdrie However, a street-by-street search for the vehicle proved fruitless.
Ngema claimed he frequently checked on Ms Makola and had given her energy drinks. However, Ms Makola was left alone from the morning of Christmas Eve until she was found by the police 48 hours later.
During that time, Ngema spent one night clubbing with a woman, drinking champagne and cocktails.
She left his flat next morning, just before his then-girlfriend, Pauline Gordon, a staff nurse from Chapelhall, Lanarkshire, arrived. He had shopped at designer stores for presents for Ms Gordon, whose family threw him a surprise birthday party.
On Christmas Day, Ngema attended Mass with the Gordon family and celebrated at their home for the rest of the day. Mr Prentice said: "The Crown is entirely satisfied that (Ms Gordon] was not involved in the crimes and that she was duped by the accused.
"The Gordon family took him into their home and treated him as one of their family. They were humiliated in front of their friends and neighbours."
A second search for Ms Makola began on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, officers found the Astra in Meadowside Place, Airdrie.
Mr Prentice said: "She started to hear people near the car and managed to create a gap in the tape (around her mouth]. She started saying, 'Please help'.
"She heard footsteps at the car and then the car alarm activate. (Police] officers attempted to remove a scarf from her eyes and she was screaming from the pain." A doctor who treated Ms Makola reported that her circulation would have been seriously compromised if she had remained in the boot for another 12 to 24 hours, and that her life would have been in real danger.
Ngema was subsequently identified as a suspect and was traced and detained.
Detectives found he had withdrawn £2,200 in cash, and bought goods worth hundreds of pounds, using Ms Makola's bank cards. He had also stolen items including a computer and DVD player from her home.
Ngema – who also uses the name Sifiso Praise God Ngema – is facing a possible life sentence after he admitted abducting Ms Makola and assaulting her to the danger of her life.
He had applied for asylum in 2001 but this was refused, and was removed from the UK in 2002. Within months, he returned, using his brother's passport, and managed to live illegally in Scotland.
Lord Menzies called for a risk assessment report, a prelude to the possible imposition of a lifelong restriction order, and continued the case until July.
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