By Logan Govender and Jolene Marriah
When Anthea Govindsamy, 35, was viciously stabbed to death 19 times by her husband Jaiseelan 'Jason' Govindsamy, 41, on March 25, 2007, she tried in vain to defend herself.
This was according to senior State advocate Dheelan Naidoo, after the post-mortem report, compiled by Howick district surgeon, Dr Deenadayalan Naidoo, revealed Anthea was stabbed on her forehead, her nose, right eye, heart, lungs, palms, chest, and hands.
Naidoo said Govindsamy had 'targeted Anthea's vital organs'
The murder trial which started in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on July 27, is expected to continue until next week.
Close family members in the courtroom watched the proceedings in silence.
On Tuesday, advocate Naidoo told the court that the victim, Anthea, an occupational therapist, of Petunia Street, was stabbed repeatedly on her torso during the killing frenzy at the parking lot opposite a park near Howick Falls.
Naidoo claimed that Anthea's husband, Govindsamy, a former male nurse, who is being tried before Judge Esther Steyn and two assessors, had premeditated the murder in the presence of their children, Dante, nine, stricken with cerebral palsy, and Darne, seven.
The children are now living with their paternal grandparents in Howick West.
Naidoo further submitted that Govindsamy had searched for his wife, and when he found her standing at the open driver's side door of a vehicle belonging to a relative, Geraldine Govindsamy, he attacked her.
Naidoo said while the accused in his Section 115 statement had conceded that he had stabbed and killed his wife, he (Govindsamy) had claimed that he did not have the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.
However, this claim was contradicted by Lingum Pillay, a clinical psychologist, who prepared a report on behalf of the defence.
Pillay testified that Govindsamy had experienced 'an emotional storm' and even though he was aware of what he was doing, he was unable to control himself.
According to Pillay, it was not unusual for people to experience partial amnesia.
This was said after Naidoo submitted that Govindsamy had remembered he was at the park during the attack and had stood on his wife after she fell.
Naidoo further said that the accused had heard shots fired by an off-duty police officer who attended the scene after the fatal stabbing.
He also had recollections of being handcuffed after the incident.
Pillay claimed that Govindsamy felt as though he was responsible for his son's cerebral palsied state and this issue led to the deterioration of his marriage.
Pillay alleged that Govindsamy and Anthea did not share an intimate relationship and that the former male nurse was furious after he found contraceptives at their home.
It emerged during evidence that after Govindsamy had questioned Anthea about the contraceptives, she told him it was none of his business.
He said Govindsamy was exceptionally desperate and had indulged in alcohol and cocaine to help cope with his problems.
Pillay claimed Govindsamy felt as though he had experienced a rush of rage after Anthea dismissed his inquiry as to who "Travis" was.
Pillay submitted that Govindsamy suspected that his wife was involved in an extramarital affair.
On Tuesday, a relative, who did not want to be named, said they hoped justice prevailed.
She said the couple shared a "turbulent" relationship ever since they tied the knot in 1992.