Durban - The family of a terminally ill boy are preparing to face off against prison authorities in court over whether the boy’s convicted killer father should be allowed to visit his child.
Relatives of Jaiseelan Govindsamy, who are caring for the child, are expected to bring an urgent application before the Pietermaritzburg High Court this week to order the prison services to allow the prisoner to visit his 13-year-old son, Dante, in hospital.
Requests in writing to the Department of Correctional Services to arrange for Govindsamy to visit his son last week were refused.
According to the family, Dante, who suffers from a rare neurological disorder called Leigh’s Syndrome, is in a critical condition on a ventilator in the ICU at Grey’s Hospital, and has reportedly been asking to see his father.
Govindsamy was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Anthea - Dante’s mother - who he stabbed 19 times at Howick Falls on March 25, 2007.
Dante, along with his sister and cousin, were witnesses to the gruesome killing.
The Daily News reported on the murder at the time, as well as the sensational trial that followed.
In 2009, Judge Esther Steyn rejected Govindsamy’s defence that due to his psychological state at the time, he wasn’t able to control his actions.
She found that the cold-blooded killing was “goal directed and premeditated” and sentenced Govindsamy to 20 years behind bars.
Daily News