Mom gets bail, son in jail

A VERULAM mother has been granted bail but her son remains in police custody after they were charged with murder.

Cynthia Vatharajoo, 43, a reservationist at a hotel, and her son, Sashen Naidoo, 24, who is unemployed, appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

They were represented by attorney Jaydene Kisten.

It is alleged that Naidoo stabbed his mother's partner, Dilo Subramoney Pillay, multiple times after an altercation at their home in Trenance Park, Verulam, on Saturday.

Pillay, 47, a manager at a car wash in uMhlanga, died at the scene. Vatharajoo and Pillay were in a relationship for about four years and they have a 3-year-old child together.

In Vatharajoo’s application for bail, she said she had a protection order against Pillay and that there was not enough evidence linking her to the crime. The State did not oppose her bail application and she was granted R2 000 bail.

Naidoo was remanded into police custody until his bail hearing next week.

Pillay's relative, who declined to be named, said: “I was told that Dilo was stabbed following an altercation. I believe there are always three sides to every story – what you believe happened, what they believe happened, and the truth.

“Dilo was killed in a brutal manner. To be stabbed so many times tells you how rageful the person was. I hope the police investigation and court proceedings give us clarity on what happened.”

The relative said the family were unaware of a protection order against Pillay. “I know Dilo and his partner had a difficult relationship but he stayed because of their child.”

She said Pillay had two other children from a previous marriage.

Pillay was cremated at the Verulam Crematorium on Tuesday.

Police said a case of murder was being investigated.