NEWS BRIEFS

● A NEWCASTLE teenager succumbed to his injuries after the vehicle his friend was allegedly driving crashed into a wall on Sunday evening. Shaldon Gokul, 17, pictured, was thrown from the passenger seat and landed on the roof of a house. He sustained multiple-broken bones and fractures. His friend, who suffered internal injuries, was charged with culpable homicide and is under police guard at a local hospital. Shaldon’s stepfather Mahendra Boodhoo said his son had fitted a sound system into his friend’s car and they decided to take a drive. They were in Fernwood when the friend allegedly lost control. “Shaldon was thrown out of the vehicle and his body landed on the roof. His uncle, who lives nearby, alerted us. To see him in that condition just broke us.” Boodhoo claimed the driver fled the scene and returned minutes later. He had forgiven the driver, but wanted him prosecuted. | Charlene Somduth

● THE family of a disabled man, who was burnt beyond recognition after a fire at his home in Phoenix last Wednesday, believes he had ended his life.

Former security guard Ravi Pillay, 46, of Rainham, was burnt on his face and legs. He was found in the bedroom of his home in a six-family flat.

His wife, Tessa, said he suffered a stroke four years ago, which resulted in him being partially mobile. He got around with the aid of a walker.

“After the stroke, he became temperamental and aggressive. He tried to set our home on fire before, while we were inside with our two daughters, but we all managed to get out,” she claimed.

She said she and her daughters had moved on, while his family had allegedly disowned him.

Tessa claimed he had lived alone and survived off his disability grant.

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala, said an inquest docket was opened. | Charlene Somduth ● A VERULAM mother, who allegedly dumped her newborn baby in a plastic bag at the roadside, appeared at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The case against the woman, 31, has been moved to the regional court. She was charged with attempted murder and ill-treatment of the child. On January 14, a passer-by looking for food in the bins on Olivine Road spotted the baby, which still had its umbilical cord attached. He alerted another passer-by, who called private security company Reaction Unit South Africa. Officers found the infant in good health and minutes later was tipped off that the mother lived metres away from the scene. The baby boy was taken to a local hospital for observation and the mother was handed over to Verulam police. She was released on January 16 on R1 000 bail. | Chanelle Lutchman