By Keeran Sewsunker
Chronic schizophrenic Kevin Naidoo told a district surgeon he killed five-month-old baby Cameron Marissa Moodley on the orders of his wife - the baby's paternal grandmother - as she wanted to get back at her daughter-in-law.
This emerged in the Durban regional court on Wednesday when Naidoo appeared for the third time since his arrest and was referred to Fort Napier Hospital for mental observation for 30 days.
Naidoo, 32, is alleged to have snatched Cameron three weeks ago. A week-long search for the baby culminated in Naidoo's arrest in Bloemfontein two weeks ago. Cameron's body was found on a vacant plot in Caneside, Phoenix.
Naidoo will have to spend an indefinite time in custody at Westville prison as there are no beds available at Fort Napier.
An application by his attorney, Shahin Azmuth, to have him remanded to the Phoenix police station holding cells was turned down by magistrate Stanley Hlope.
According to a district surgeon's report which was handed in as evidence, Naidoo said his wife, Jean Naidoo, had told him she was not happy with her daughter-in-law, Venessa Moodley, who was Cameron's mother.
Mrs Naidoo told him to kill the child as he would get away with it because of his mental illness.
The report also said Naidoo was a known schizophrenic who would become paranoid and delusional at times.
There was drama in court on Wednesday when Cameron's mother had to be removed after she lunged at Naidoo in the dock. Naidoo ducked away and Hlope ordered him to sit in the witness box for the rest of the proceedings.
Naidoo will remain at Westville prison until the matter comes to court again on June 1. If a bed is then available at Fort Napier, he will be referred there for observation, but if no beds are available he will return to prison until his next court date.