Medical setback for murder accused

FORMER Telkom employee Maran Nair has suffered a medical setback just days before he was to learnt his fate in his murder trial.

Accused of going on a shooting rampage at his daughter’s home on Boxing Day in 2014, killing two people and leaving two others injured, judgment was to have been passed by the Durban High Court on Monday.

The matter had to be adjourned after the court was told of his heart troubles.

“My client was rushed to hospital last week and the hospital detected some concerns with his heart and on the same day he had to undergo some procedures,” said Nair’s lawyer, Mervin Dorasamy.

“As his legal team we are concerned for his health and, of course, his health comes first. We are, however, confident that once he is on the road to recovery we will be able to resume the case effectively.”

Reuben Samuels, whose wife Kumari, 42, died after being shot, said his family were very disappointed that judgment had to be postponed. “Actually, disappointed is not even the word. We are disheartened. This case has been going on for years. I guess we just have to wait for justice,” he told POST.

Shunker Govender, 35, and Pushpa Govender, 67, were also shot that day. Shunker, who was shot in the chest, died two months later.

Nair, 63, was receiving treatment for depression at the time of the incident, the court had heard.

Samuels and his family had been living in Unit 7, Chatsworth, at the time, along with Nair’s daughter Kubashnie and her husband and sons.

Evidence was that there had been animosity between Nair and the Samuels family since Nair’s daughter married his relative.

Judgment is expected to be handed down in July.