Fresh counsel delays Shahiel murder trial

NEW legal counsel for one of the two women accused of killing their relative, nine-year-old Shahiel Sewpujun, yesterday delayed the start of the Durban High Court trial.

After a problem with murder accused 54-year-old Rajwanthie Haripersadh’s initial legal representative, Legal Aid had appointed another attorney.

However, yesterday Judge Dhaya Pillay heard the new attorney was answering calls from Legal Aid and was not present in court.

The judge called for clarity on whether this attorney was accepting the case, and also as to whether she would be ready to start as soon as possible.

“She needs to be on top of her game, as this is a serious case,” said Judge Pillay.

The court later heard the new attorney was on board, but required time to consult. The trial was adjourned until later this week.

Haripersadh and her 31-year-old daughter, Kavitha Naicker, are charged with Shahiel’s murder.

The women lived in Clayfield, Phoenix, with Shahiel and his mother and stepfather.

It is alleged the women conspired to kill the boy because of his “demeanour towards them”.

According to the indictment, on February 5, 2015, the child was at home with the women when Naicker hit him on the head with a chisel and held him down while her mother bound Shahiel’s mouth and nose with cellophane tape.

It is further alleged they placed his body in a suitcase, discarded his school clothes and books at a stream and then carried the suitcase to nearby bush. Later that night they apparently returned to the suitcase, removed Shahiel’s body and Haripersadh allegedly dumped it in a stormwater drain while Naicker kept watch.

The community found Shahiel’s body three days later, and police recovered his school clothes and books the next day.

According to the postmortem report, Shahiel died from a blunt force head injury in the presence of features of smothering.

Both women are currently in custody.