Police had been investigating other charges against former wrestling and show promoter Shane Jaipal, on trial for murdering his former lover by dousing her with petrol and setting her alight, a KwaZulu-Natal judge heard on Wednesday.

Jaipal has pleaded not guilty to murdering Argentina Loutsaris on October 21 1997, and is on trial before Mr Justice Hillary Squires, sitting in Pinetown.

Jaipal has maintained he was in Umtata on the day of the murder.

Investigating officer Kevin Gouws told the court on Wednesday that he learnt from Argentina's son, Victor Loutsaris, that she had made a dying declaration naming Jaipal as her killer.

"I knew the suspect (Jaipal) before this because of the dockets I had been receiving," said Inspector Gouws. He later added he was investigating about five different charges involving a family feud in which Jaipal was embroiled.

Gouws said he and other police officers went to Jaipal's address on the evening of Argentina's death, but the family members he found at the house denied that Jaipal lived there.

However, he was allowed by Mary Jaipal to search the premises and, in the course of the search, found photographs of Jaipal and accounts in his name.

Gouws said he left after telling the people at the house that he was looking for Jaipal in connection with a murder, and explained that he had applied for a warrant of arrest because he believed Jaipal was on the run.

The trial continues.

With acknowledgements to Sue Blaine and Independent Online.