Stabbed exwife to death in ‘frenzied’ attack

CHRISTCHURCH: A spurned lover yesterday admitted stabbing his exwife to death in a horrific ‘‘frenzied’’ street attack before declaring, ‘‘We are going to die together.’’

Shiu Prasad, a 52yearold diesel mechanic, married Keshni Naicker (28) in 2013 but became enraged after she left him earlier this year.

On September 8 they had an argument, which led to Naicker moving out of the marital home.

The next day, the resthome worker told Prasad it was over.

Unknown to Prasad, Naicker had met Asveen Sharan, a 31yearold meatprocess worker, online back in January, a court summary of facts says.

After September 9, Prasad repeatedly asked Naicker if she was in a relationship with another man, which she denied.

Prasad phoned and texted her on multiple occasions, saying he still loved her, challenging her over having a new boyfriend, threatening suicide and threatening to expose her ‘‘perceived’’ infidelity to her family in Fiji.

On the afternoon of September 15, Prasad spotted his exwife and Sharan walking together near the Bush Inn shopping mall.

That night, Prasad grabbed a large kitchen knife and waited outside Naicker’s work.

Sharan showed up to walk his partner home, but as they started walking along Ilam Rd, Prasad ran up behind them and stabbed Naicker in the back. He then stabbed Sharan in the head.

Sharan fell to the ground and Prasad stabbed him another four times in the chest, back and shoulder while Naicker screamed at him to stop.

Sharan started fighting back and told Naicker to run for it.

Naicker ran off but fell over some 80m from where the attack began.

Prasad stabbed her in what was described as a ‘‘frenzied assault’’. Naicker received multiple defence wounds to her arms and hands as she fought for her life.

Despite his serious injuries, Sharan managed to walk over and tried to intervene, along with other shocked bystanders, but they were threatened by Prasad to keep away.

‘‘It’s OK, she’s my wife,’’ Prasad said. ‘‘I’m going to die with her. We are going to die together!’’

He stood up and said, ‘‘I’ve got nothing left’’, and ‘‘I will kill myself’’.

He lifted his shirt and stabbed himself four times in the abdomen and threw the knife away.

Naicker, who received six ‘‘substantial’’ stab wounds, died in an ambulance at the scene.

Yesterday at the High Court in Christchurch, Prasad pleaded guilty to murdering Naicker and wounding Sharan with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Justice Gerald Nation remanded him in custody for sentencing on December 7. — NZME