Durban - A 42-year-old Phoenix man accused of being in a romantic relationship with a teenager was beaten to death, allegedly by the girl’s father, at the weekend.
Basil Pillay, a clothing dispatcher, was found lying in a pool of blood in Sancroft Close, Longcroft, on Saturday afternoon. He had sustained severe head injuries.
While Pillay’s family prepared for his funeral on Monday, the 17-year-old girl’s father appeared in the Verulam Magistrate's Court on a charge of murder. They cannot be named because the girl is a minor.
According to a police source, Pillay, who was a bachelor, was standing outside the accused's home with the girl when her father told him not to come back to the house.
“It is alleged that Pillay refused to leave and the accused became angry. The accused head-butted the man who fell to the ground. The accused continued to punch and kick him. He died at the scene.”
The source said neighbours contacted the police and the father was arrested. Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said a case of murder was being investigated.
Pillay's sister Caroline said her brother had been “beaten to a pulp”. Blood was gushing from his mouth. She described the killing as “merciless and barbaric”.
“Yes, he was in a relationship with the teenage girl; our family and everyone in the area knew it. The girl would bunk school to be with my brother. I warned him not to pursue the relationship because of her age but he did not listen.”
The situation could have been handled differently, she said.
“This is the third murder in our family. My father Devali was murdered at age 33 in a robbery in 1979 and my brother Pragasen was murdered at 18 in 1988, also over a girl. Their attackers got off scot-free but this time we won’t rest until the accused is brought to book.”
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