Durban - One of the accused in the Kurtlee Pillay murder trial, Blaine Raman, 20, has had the charges against him dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Raman’s attorney, Anand Nepaul, welcomed the decision and said: “I am thankful that the Director of Public Prosecutions properly applied his mind to the evidence in the matter, and has reached a sound and rational decision. The basis of my client’s application for bail and the contentions raised therein have now been vindicated.”
Raman was accused with Dinesh Nana, 22, and Bilal Tayob, 26, of the murder, robbery and kidnapping of Pillay, apparently because he had contact with one of their ex-girlfriends. It is alleged that the men trapped Pillay by calling him to help them with car troubles on Chapel Street, Overport, last November.
Raman and Nana had applied for bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last week.
The men allegedly kidnapped Pillay in his own car, stabbed him numerous times, knocked him over with his car and then dragged him along West Riding Row, Sherwood, off the M13/ King Cetshwayo (Jan Smuts) Highway.
Pillay, a part-time student at the Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design on the Berea, went into cardiac arrest and died at the roadside while paramedics were trying to save him.
The case was set to continue on June 4.
Daily News