Lives of murder accused’s family ‘turned upside down’
THE FATHER of murder accused Shaun “Rooster” Pillay walked with a heavy heart around the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, troubled that his own flesh and blood could have taken another’s life.
While Mickey Pillay holds out hope his son has been wrongfully accused, he is adamant that if he did kill the Shallcross businesswoman he is alleged to have been having an affair with, the 36-year-old needed to tell the truth and pay for his crime.
Pillay junior is accused of having killed Veronica Moodley at her home in December last year. Her decomposing body was found by relatives inside a parked car on her property, days after she could not be traced.
Moodley, 45, was married and had allegedly hired Pillay to take care of her husband, who had suffered a stroke.
It has been alleged the accused lived with the couple.
During the days leading up to Moodley being found, her husband, who was unsupervised, allegedly survived on cooldrink.
Speaking to POST after his son’s brief appearance, Pillay senior said he had not raised his son to commit crime and wanted justice for the bereaved family.
“My wife and I taught him to respect people and live a good, clean life.
“We are shocked he was implicated in something like this. It has turned our lives upset down.”
He continued: “My heart breaks when I see the woman’s family cry in court. I just want my son to tell the truth and tell the family why he did what he did, if he did indeed kill her.
“I come to court for answers but he says nothing. If my son is found guilty, he must feel the full might of the law.”
Pillay senior said the past two months had taken a toll on him and his wife, who had a heart condition.
“She is now acting up and is so unwell. We don’t know what to do.”
Moodley’s family said they went to the grills to speak to the accused and he had allegedly apologised for her death.
The family members, who declined to be named, said this was not enough.
They wanted answers.
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“Shaun and her worked for BMW but he left the company. They met co-incidentally at the Chatsworth Centre in July and while chatting, Veronica mentioned she needed a caregiver for her husband.”
Pillay junior allegedly told Moodley he was a caregiver and could help out.
“As far as we know that was the relationship they shared. We don’t know if they were in a relationship. He is now claiming that.”
Pillay junior has been remanded into custody and is due back in court next month.