Nine life sentences were handed down in the Durban High Court on Monday to three young men for the "cruel and callous execution" of three girls in a sugar cane field in Umbumbulu in 2002.
Koogan Thevar, 19, Nevellyn David, 22 and Nkosinathi Gumede, 18, were convicted on three counts of murder and one of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Thevar and Gumede were also convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Although the sentences will run concurrently, each must serve 25 years before being considered for parole.
| 'He was holding her by her hair and she was waving her arms' |
All three had played an active role in killing Krishnavelli Pillay, 19, Levera Naidoo, 17, and Rashida Abdulla, 16, in a sugar cane field in Folweni, Umbumbulu, on October 16, 2002.
The girls, who had been shot, were found in the cane field on October 17.
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Judge Vivienne Niles-Dunér said that accomplice Hamath Aboo Maurera, who had turned state witness, had been a comprehensive witness. Although he downplayed his role, he was unshaken during intensive cross-examination.
She said that Thevar had been a poor witness whose testimony was a "plethora of improbabilities, inconsistencies and contradictions".
Maurera's evidence had placed Thevar as an active participant in the killing.
A 'plethora of improbabilities, inconsistencies and contradictions'
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The motive for the killings appeared to be related to the fact that the girls had witnessed Thevar and Gumede stealing a firearm and assaulting the owner, Jaysee Ramiah. Ramiah had initially provided the girls with accommodation, but told them to move out because he had disapproved of their lifestyle.
Maurera said that Thevar had confessed to him that he had stolen Ramiah's firearm and had assaulted him.
Thevar had picked Maurera up in his minibus taxi on October 16, 2002 and they had gone around Chatsworth picking up passengers.
When they dropped off passengers at The Workshop, Thevar spotted the three girls and told them to get in.
Having picked up more passengers, Thevar headed back to Chatsworth where he dropped them off.
Around 5.30pm Thevar, his co-accused, the three girls and Maurera parked outside a shopping centre where they ate food and drank alcohol.
Thevar had initially told the girls he would take them back into the city, but later said he had to first drop Gumede at his home.
Gumede then gave them directions until they came to a sugar cane field.
Thevar switched off the engine and jumped out with a gun in his right hand. Gumede opened the sliding door and Koogan told the girls to get out.
"Rashida came out first, and I helped the second girl, Levera, because she was unstable," Maurera said.
"Koogan lifted his right hand and shot Rashida in the head twice. She was standing five metres from him."
"Levera fell down and tried to run away, but Gumede ran after her and brought her back. He twisted her right arm and brought her to Koogan.
"Koogan shot her two or three times in the head. The third girl was still in the taxi. Koogan shouted at her to come out. Nevellyn brought her through the door. He was holding her by her hair and she was waving her arms. He shot her in the head, she fell to the ground and he shot her in the chest," said Maurera.
Koogan then made David, Gumede and Maurera drag the bodies into the field. Thevar then swore them to silence.
Thevar denied shooting the girls. He claimed Maurera had been fighting with them.
He said he had heard the gunshots, but did not see who had fired them. He said Maurera had ordered David and Gumede to dump the bodies.
Thevar said he was afraid of Maurera, and did what he was told.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on March 09, 2004
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