Pietermaritzburg - An elderly woman sat weeping in the corner unable to accept that her niece’s daughter won't be coming home.
For almost five months, 17-year-old Rashmika Janthilayal had been living with her relatives in Pietermaritzburg to pursue her dreams of becoming a hairdresser.
On Monday morning, the teenager was stabbed repeatedly, allegedly by her on- off 19-year-old boyfriend at her campus in Northdale, Pietermaritzburg.
Police spokesman Joey Jeevan said Rashmika had been standing on the staircase arguing with a 19-year-old when he produced a knife and stabbed her several times before fleeing.
Her devastated aunt Abigail Ramsahai said that Rashmika, who was from Greytown, had been living with her and her elderly mom, Shirley, since January this year.
“Rashmika’s mom and I are cousins. The teenager was like a daughter to me. When her parents asked if she could board at our house my mom and I were thrilled. On Monday, just before noon, Abigail said she received a frantic call from Rashmika’s mom, Shireen, a hairdresser, telling her that Rashmika had been stabbed.
“She asked me to go to the campus as she and her husband were on their way from Greytown. When I arrived at the campus our baby was covered in blood. She had been stabbed at least seven to eight times. She was declared dead by paramedics minutes after her parents arrived.”
Abigail said she was uncertain how long the duo had been dating.
“All I know is that they had met on Facebook. Two weeks ago he went to her campus and did wheelspins with his car. This scared Rashmika. She came home crying.”
She added that Rashmika’s parents were aware of the youngster who refused to leave their daughter alone.
“He had threatened her parents and they were thinking about seeking a court interdict against him, but also believed they could rationalise with him. We never thought it would come to this. She had big dreams of working on a cruise ship as a hairdresser and was set to graduate next week.”
The mother of the 19-year-old accused said she had been advised by her attorney Anand Pillay not to comment. “All I can say is that there is a God and he will make a way.”
A group of girls at the campus said “We ran to the scene and found Rashmika lying in a pool of blood. She was bleeding from her mouth and nose and could not speak,” said one of the teenagers.
The suspect was arrested shortly after the incident by members of the Mountain Rise Crime Unit comprising Warrant Officer Ravi Pather, Captain Pipes Haffajee and Sergeant Sheldon Norman.
He is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court. It is believed that the two youngsters’ cellphones will form key evidence in the investigation.
The Post