Durban - A landlord who allegedly opened fire on his tenants, killing his mother who tried to intervene, has delayed his murder trial claiming he is emotionally distressed.
Chatsworth resident, Vassa Govender, 56, made a brief appearance in the Durban Regional Court on Wednesday.
He is charged with the murder of his mother, Annamma Govender, 88, and the attempted murder of his tenants Neville Jodash Moodley, 24, and his girlfriend, Simone Subrayen, 20, at his Moorcross home in April last year.
Looking out of sorts with an unkempt grey beard, Govender instructed his legal aid attorney, Thobile Sigcau, to ask for a postponement in the trial because he sought to visit the doctor because he felt depressed.
“My client has told me that he has been crying the entire morning and he is feeling emotionally distressed.
He wants to visit a doctor today to check on his depression and fear,” Sigcau said.
Prosecutor Sharon Moodley did not object, saying it would be better to ascertain what he was suffering from now before the trial got under way.
Govender is alleged to have shot at the tenants who had their five-month-old child in the house at the time after becoming embroiled in a bitter argument which was sparked by them playing loud music a few days earlier.
It is alleged that while he was on his shooting spree, his mother tried to help defuse the situation.
She was also shot and died later at Chatsmed Hospital. Subrayen was hit in the chest and the bullet exited through her arm.
Moodley escaped without any serious injury.
Govender who is on R2 000 bail, was granted permission to visit a doctor. The matter was adjourned to next month when the trial is expected to begin.
* Meanwhile, the last man still accused in the Kings Park murder trial, Blayne Shepard, 24, will have to wait until next month before a date will be set for argument and judgment.
Shepard is on trial for the murder of former British Royal Marine, Brett Williams, who was beaten to death outside the Growthpoint Kings Park rugby stadium after the Sharks against Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby match on the night of March 23, 2013.
Five men were initially charged. Grant Cramer was the first to be let off the hook when he turned State witness.
Shepard’s brother, Kyle, 26, Andries van der Merwe, 24, and Dustin van Wyk, 24 had all charges against them withdrawn in December.
The four men were charged with murder, crimen injuria, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and public violence.
While Shepard was also acquitted of the remainder of the charges, Magistrate Trevor Levitt felt he had to answer to the murder charge.
The matter was adjourned to February 16.
Daily News