Murder accused deny earlier confessions of ‘killing’

DESPITE previously confessing to their roles in killing their 9-year-old relative, Shahiel Sewpujun, and these confessions being admitted as evidence in their trial, the two murder accused insist they did not kill the little boy.

Phoenix mother and daughter, Rajwanthie Haripersadh, 54, and Kavitha Naiker, 31, are adamant they had a good relationship with Shahiel.

Naiker, who testified yester- day before Durban High Court Judge Dhaya Pillay said she was convinced she was being framed by Shahiel’s stepfather Asif Bux or possibly the investigating officer.

The State alleges both women planned to kill Shahiel on February 5, last year in Clayfield, Phoenix, because of his demeanour towards them.

It was argued Naiker used a chisel to strike the boy on his head.

According to the indictment, the pair then placed Shahiel’s body in a suitcase and carried it to nearby bushes.

They allegedly returned to the site later that night and dumped Shahiel’s body in a stormwater drain.

The court heard that while Shahiel’s mother and stepfather, and the community were searching for the child, both women drank brake fluid.

Naiker, the court heard, wrote a suicide note implicating Bux and his brother, Aadhil – Naiker’s on/off boyfriend. Both men were arrested and subsequently released.

While in hospital, Naiker apparently confessed in writing to her estranged father about killing Shahiel.

This confession was admitted into evidence by State advocate Denardo MacDonald and was contested by Naiker leading to a trial-within-a- trial.

Haripersadh also made a confession to the police, saying Shahiel was killed because he was “naughty”. She too disputed this confession.