Durban - Triple murder accused Mogamberry “Rajen” Kandasamy is to stand trial in the Durban High Court in October.
And in the meantime, his Chatsworth house is to be sold with part of the proceeds being used to fund his defence.
The lawyer hired by his wife’s family in Johannesburg, on a watching brief, and who is also expected to be appointed as the executor of the estate, told the Daily News on Wednesday the vacant property would be sold.
Kandasamy, dressed in a brown formal suit, appeared briefly in the Durban High Court on Wednesday.
He is accused of killing his wife, Versha “Mala” Kandasamy, 41, his son, Megandran, 17, and his 18-year-old daughter, Melarisa, in December 2013 at their home in Moorton, Chatsworth.
According to the indictment, Kandasamy and his wife were experiencing marital discord before the murders.
“During the early hours of Sunday, December 29, the accused and Mala returned to their residence after spending the night out with friends and relatives,” the indictment reads.
“(Their children) were at home. After Mala had gone to bed, the accused armed himself with two wooden (Indian traditional) maces and proceeded to her bedroom where he struck her repeatedly on her head, fatally injuring her.
“At some point during this attack, (the children) entered the bedroom. The accused then struck them repeatedly on their heads with the wooden maces, fatally injuring them too. He then fled the scene.”
According to a post-mortem report, the cause of death for each of the three deceased was blunt force injuries to the head.
Kandasamy was in custody for six months before his release on R10 000 bail in July.
While in custody, he was sent for mental observation and various assessment reports concluded he was mentally fit to stand trial.
Yesterday, Chatsworth attorney Arvin Singh was present in court on a watching brief.
He said Kandasamy was the sole beneficiary of the estate, but should he be found guilty, Versha Kandasamy’s sister would be the sole beneficiary.
He indicated that both parties have consented to him being the executor of the estate and said the Chatsworth home was expected to be sold, as it was currently lying vacant.
Singh said the money from the sale would be used to fund Kandasamy’s defence.
Siven Samuel, Kandasamy’s attorney, explained that the couple were married in community of property and that Kandasamy therefore owned half the home.
He said half of the proceeds from the sale would go towards funding Kandasamy’s defence and should his client be acquitted, Kandasamy would inherit the remaining half.
Daily News