Durban - One of the men responsible for the brutal assault on a foreigner by spraypainting his entire body, has pleaded guilty and fingered his co-accused as the aggressor behind the bizarre attack in Pietermaritzburg.
Shadrack Wayne Naidoo, 25, has confessed to assaulting Malawian Bilal Asan by “hitting him with an axe and spraypainting him with white paint”.
Naidoo was given a wholly suspended sentence of two years’ imprisonment for his crime.
His co-accused in the case, Avikar Lutchman, 27, who Naidoo alleges is the one who physically painted Asan, has pleaded not guilty and he will go on trial next week.
It is believed that Naidoo may be used as a witness against Lutchman.
In his plea in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court last week, Naidoo admitted that he was guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
He said he formed a common purpose with Lutchman to assault Asan on January 7 this year.
He said he had gone with Lutchman to the premises in Violet Road where Asan worked as a mechanic, for Lutchman to collect money from him.
On arrival at the premises, he said Lutchman saw a man, Philandran Chetty, who had previously worked on his motor vehicle, and allegedly had stolen certain parts from the vehicle.
“The two then had an argument and Lutchman assaulted Chetty with water pump pliers. We then left,” said Naidoo.
He said that shortly thereafter they returned to the premises to collect the money from Asan.
“On our return an argument ensued between Lutchman and Asan. I then subdued Asan by holding him. Whilst I was holding him, Lutchman struck him with an object which it has now been brought to my attention was an axe. Lutchman then put white paint on the complainant,” Naidoo said.
A source, meanwhile, has disclosed to the Daily News that Asan was in the country illegally, and faces charges of his own.
His case is still pending.
Attempts to call Asan on his cellphone on Monday proved fruitless, as all calls went straight to voicemail.
Daily News
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