Durban - One of the men charged with the murder of Overport student Kurtlee Pillay says he is determined to prove his innocence.
Bilal Tayob, who has been in custody since his arrest in November last year, applied for bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Tayob and Dinesh Nana are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping in Sherwood in November last year. It is alleged that Pillay was attacked and later dragged under his own Golf.
The Golf was found outside the Belmont Hotel, in Tyzack Street, in Durban’s South Beach area, the next day, and police arrested the men as they allegedly fled.
Pillay was stabbed more than 30 times in his chest, neck, head and back, and some of his fingers were partly severed.
Charges against a third accused, Blaine Raman, who the State alleged had met Pillay on the night of the murder, were withdrawn last month. According to a document attached to the charge sheet, the office of the director of public prosecutions said there was no prima facie evidence in the docket against Raman.
On Thursday, Tayob said in an affidavit before the court that he was not involved in the incident and was arrested while he was “asleep in a vehicle”. He admitted that he had two previous convictions, for theft and possession of dagga.
The investigating officer, Krishna Naidoo, said there was a strong case against the accused. Naidoo said there had also been threats made against the men on social media.
The case was adjourned to on Friday.
The Mercury