Men charged for brutal slaying

2003-09-22 17:51

Durban - Three males accused of the brutal killing of three teenage girls whose bodies were found in a sugarcane plantation in Folweni, outside Durban, appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Koogan Thaver, 19, Nevellyn David, 21, and a 17-year-old Chatsworth teenager are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, and unauthorised possession of a firearm and ammunition.

They were remanded for trial which is to take place in the Durban High Court from October 15 to 28.

Shireen Jelal, representing the accused, said her clients had been in custody for at least a year, and her instructions were that she make a bail application on their behalf.

The girls, Krishnavelli Pillay, Levera Naidoo and Rashida Abdulla, were found shot dead in the plantation after, it is alleged, they had taken a joyride with the accused.

According to the indictment, the deceased were living at the home of Jayce Lutchman Ramiah and because of their "behaviour", he had asked them to vacate his house and find alternative accommodation.

When the girls went to collect their belongings, one of them stole a cellphone which belonged to Ramiah.

When Ramiah arrived home and was busy searching for his phone, Thaver and the teenage accused arrived and assaulted him, taking his firearm.

That same day the girls were at the Workshop shopping centre when the accused, together with one Hamath Maurena, collected them and drove to Folweni, Umbumbulu.

The indictment states that the girls were taken out of the car, shot dead and dragged into the sugarcane plantation.

Two days later the accused were arrested.

- SAPA