Victim’s family angry over verdict
THE family of a Shallcross woman, who was killed by her lover while her disabled husband was elsewhere in her home, are outraged at the verdict of culpable homicide handed down on Tuesday.
Shaun “Rooster” Pillay, who was initially hired as a caregiver for Veronica Moodley’s husband, who had suffered a stroke, was charged with murder after her badly decomposed body was found in the back seat of an abandoned car parked in her backyard in January last year.
She died a few days earlier, in December 2016.
Pillay, 36, had testified that he had hit her after she found him watching porn on her cellphone.
Handing down judgment, magistrate B Mbulawa said it was not Pillay’s intention to kill Moodley. Rather, it was through his negligence that she died because he failed to help her as she lay on the floor moaning and gasping.
The court heard that Pillay had been employed by Moodley to care for her husband Ricky, who used a wheelchair after suffering a stroke in 2005.
The couple had subsequently developed a romantic relationship as Moodley was estranged from her husband.
On the day of her death, the trio had gone to the beach for a braai.
While returning to the house, they decided to buy five rocks of cocaine, a case of beers and two bottles of whiskey.
After having a few drinks, Ricky was taken to his bed and shortly after that, Moodley also went to sleep in a separate room, the court heard.
Pillay, who was seated in the lounge, then took Moodley’s cellphone and began to watch porn until he fell asleep.
He was awoken by a slap on his face by Moodley, who wanted to know why he was sleeping in the lounge and not in their bedroom.
She also wanted to know why he was watching porn.
Pillay became annoyed with the way Moodley was treating him as she was hitting and shouting at him, the magistrate said in her summary of evidence.
Pillay claimed the argument escalated to the bedroom, where he slapped Moodley several times and pushed her to the floor.
Moodley was crying and moaning, and he then picked her up in a “choking manner” before throwing her back to the floor. He left her on the floor and went back to the lounge.
However, Mbulawa did not accept his version that the assault happened in the bedroom, but in the lounge. This was consistent with Pillay’s statement, and the pictures taken during the “pointing out” of the crime scene.
Pillay had told the court he was annoyed by Moodley’s behaviour and that he had continued to take drugs and drink alcohol.
Later that night, when the drugs and alcohol were finished he went out to buy some more and when he returned he saw her on the floor.
He continued his drug and alcohol binge.
The next day around 10am, he got up to yet again go out and buy drugs and alcohol when he noticed her still on the floor.
Her body was cold and stiff. Pillay claimed he panicked and took her body and wrapped it in a duvet and left it in an unused car. He then fled the scene, telling Ricky she had gone to Johannesburg to visit relatives.
Pillay took Moodley’s cash card, as well as her vehicle, a VW Polo. He spent R26 950 on drugs, alcohol and accommodation. He then abandoned the vehicle, which was later recovered by a tracking company. Pillay was also found guilty of theft and defeating the ends of justice. Sentencing is due later this month.
Struggling to hold back tears, Moodley’s sister, Leeanne Maharajh, was at a loss for words.
“I don’t know what to say, whatever I say, is not going to be heard,” she told POST.
“I am glad this case is finally over, but I cannot accept that he is guilty of culpable homicide. I am also disappointed in the prosecution, and we feel the justice system has left us down.”
She said the case had taken a toll on her. “I lost my job and was hospitalised many times due to anxiety.”