A paroled killer, who was jailed for life by a judge for fatally stabbing a Malvern businessman and his friend with a sword, deserved to rot in prison, the victim’s heartbroken young wife told POST in an interview this week.
Clutching Tyree, her nine-month-old son, in her arms and fighting back tears, petite Anneline Naidoo, 21, said the murder of her husband and high-school sweetheart, Kevindran ‘Kevin’ Naidoo, 25, on August 8, by self-confessed sword killer Adrian Veeran had left her life in turmoil.
She said she was devastated that her devoted husband and the doting father of her son would no longer be there for the family.
On Tuesday, while Anneline and other family members were busy with the second of the 16-day ceremony rituals in Malvern, Judge Mohini Murugasen, in a packed Durban High Court, did not mince words when she imposed an effective life sentence on Veeran.
Veeran, 31, of Shallcross, who was alone in court on Tuesday, pleaded guilty on Monday to robbing Naidoo of a gold chain – which he got a relative to pawn for R10 000 – a gold ring, a cellphone and R5 000 in cash, as well as the murder of Naidoo and Sebastian Chetty, 22.
Represented by Thiagaraj Prem Pillay, of Legal Aid SA, Veeran was paroled on October 21 last year after serving eight years of a 12-year sentence for murdering a policeman’s father in Chatsworth.
His co-accused, Jayinderan Prakash Sewnath, 33, of Marsha Crescent, Moorton, who was released on parole last year after being behind bars for 14 years, for an unrelated murder, pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for October 26 in the Durban High Court.
After Veeran’s guilty plea, Naidoo’s shattered wife, who ran a canteen with her husband for employees at a call centre in Mount Edgecombe, said she, her in-laws and other family members were battling to come to terms with the “senseless and violent nature” of the tragedy.
“Kevin was a wonderful husband and a doting father. He went out of his way to help the less fortunate. My son is a baby and does not know that his dad won’t be coming back. Every time my son says ‘Dada’ I become emotional.
Emotions high
“I don’t know how I am going to tell my son about the tragedy when he grows up. Although it is difficult, I have to be strong for my son.”
Kevin’s mother, who declined to be named, said that while she and her family respected the judiciary and the judge’s decision, they would have preferred to see the decision of a kangaroo court.
“Emotions are running high. I cannot fathom why my son died under such horrible circumstances. Both accused will have to answer to God on judgment day.
“Losing a child is difficult to get to grips with. I last saw him at about 6.30pm on August 8. He kissed his wife, son and me before he jumped into his car and drove off.”
Chetty’s unemployed father, Steven, of Welbedacht, said justice had prevailed.
“My family and I are satisfied by the judge’s verdict. Our faith in the judiciary has been restored. Sebastian’s outlook on life in recent years had improved especially after Kevin (whom he lived with) had provided him with a helping hand. He had planned to marry his girlfriend Nicole next year,’’ he said. In her judgment, Judge Murugasen said the court agreed with the submission made by State advocate Reaa Mina that the only reason why Veeran, 31, of Shaista Crescent, Shallcross, had elected to plead guilty was because the State had a strong case against him.
On Tuesday, after learning his fate the accused exited hastily to the grille even before the judge had instructed him to do so. While rushing to the grille some people in the public gallery shouted “killer, killer”. Family members and friends of the deceased clapped and shouted after Judge Murugasen jailed Veeran for life.
According to the post-mortem report, 17 penetrating wounds were inflicted on Naidoo’s neck, arms, shoulder and anterior and posterior chest walls. He died of penetrating injuries to his lungs. Chetty suffered 12 penetrating wounds and died of penetrating abdominal injury. The judge described Veeran’s claim that he was angry because Naidoo had owed him about R1 000 for a flat screen TV which he had sold to Naidoo as questionable.
“Naidoo and Chetty were unable to defend themselves from their assailants. The sword used in the attack, the degree of violence employed and the nature of the wounds inflicted on Naidoo was not just an attempt to subdue him, but to kill him. Chetty, who had accompanied Naidoo, was also lured and murdered. Veeran committed these serious crimes while under parole. Despite his previous incarceration, he failed to display any signs of rehabilitation,’’ said Judge Murugasen.
The judge added the accused had attempted to evade arrest.
“He concealed the bodies and then booked into a hired accommodation. If he was remorseful he would have reported the offences immediately and would not have waited until he was arrested on August 11. It is a sad indictment that other than the accused the court heard of Sewnath’s girlfriend’s alleged involvement in the crime, Veeran’s relative was happy to sell Naidoo’s gold chain for R10 000 and receive a share of the proceeds. Action ought to be taken against them by police,’’ said Judge Murugasen.
The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Robin Singh, when asked by this newspaper whether any other arrests were expected, said “investigations were continuing”.
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