Pupil charged with murder after man dies from stabbing
A PUPIL has been arrested and charged with murder following the death of a Newlands West man.
Rollay Mikal Odayan, was walking on Veldcastle Road when a 16-yearold pupil from New West Secondary School allegedly approached him and they began to argue.
Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala, a provincial police spokesperson, said: “The pupil pulled out a knife from his school bag and allegedly stabbed the 29-year-old victim in the chest.”
Gareth Naidoo, a spokesperson for KZN VIP Protection Services, said when they arrived at the scene a friend was cradling Odayan.
“He sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest and was unresponsive at the time. Paramedics declared him deceased.”
Naidoo said the suspect was apprehended and handed over to the police.
The pupil appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court on Thursday. At the time of publication, the police were unable to confirm if he was granted bail.
Odayan’s stepfather said: “Rollay was a quiet, loving person. His mother and I raised him until he moved into our second home in Veldcastle where he lived with his maternal grandmother and uncle. His death has been traumatic for all of us.”
Odayan worked at a blood bank and was unmarried. He enjoyed playing soccer and his favourite team was Manchester United.
The funeral was held on Saturday at the Clare Estate Crematorium.
Muzi Mahlambi, spokesperson for the KZN Department of Education, has called on pupils not to get involved in violence: “Our pupils need to desist from placing themselves in such situations. Now a family has lost a son and our pupils become prisoners.”
He asked parents to repeatedly check their children’s school bags before they went to school.
“Parents need to work with us and not be afraid to see if their children are carrying weapons with them. Let this also be a lesson to all other pupils who think it is cool to carry weapons, about the consequences of their actions.”