Trio due to appear over Murugan’s murder

30/08/2014 Durban Crying mother of late Desiree Murugan and Sally Stevens on the right being comforted by a friend during the funeral ceremony. PICTURE: SIBUSISO NDLOVU

30/08/2014 Durban Crying mother of late Desiree Murugan and Sally Stevens on the right being comforted by a friend during the funeral ceremony. PICTURE: SIBUSISO NDLOVU

Published Sep 12, 2014

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Johannesburg -

Three minors involved in the murder of a woman who was decapitated will appear in the Durban Regional Court on Friday.

The court had been scheduled to hear their pleas on Thursday, when an 18-year-old pleaded guilty to killing and decapitating a prostitute.

Falakhe Khumalo's statement was read to the court, where he was ultimately sentenced by magistrate Andand Maharaj to life imprisonment for his role in the death of Desiree Murugan, whose headless body was found by municipal workers at Durban's Shallcross Stadium on August 18.

A traditional healer, Sivonkaliso Mbili, and his assistant, Vusumuzi Gumede, 30, who were linked to the murder, have not pleaded and their bail hearing is expected to be heard on September 22.

The court heard on Thursday that Khumalo was promised R2 million for the head of a white, Indian or coloured woman.

His statement detailed how he plotted for more than a year to get the head to pay Mbili, who cured him of a sexually transmitted disease.

He said he and his three co-accused lured Murugan, 39, to the stadium, where he paid her R100 for sex and oral sex.

“Whilst having sex, accused number one came behind me with an Okapi knife and she saw him. I then placed my hand over her mouth so that she cannot make a noise. And I held her tight so that she does not move.”

Khumalo said the accused, who is a minor and may not be named, stabbed her several times.

The body was dragged to another part of the sports field, where the head was chopped off.

Khumalo and his co-accused took the head to Mbili, the fourth accused in the trial.

Mbili allegedly ordered Gumede to bury the tins in which Murugan's body parts were placed. - Sapa

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