The family of a Chatsworth teen who was stabbed to death during a fight, is outraged after the murder accused was granted bail.
|||Durban - The family of a Chatsworth teenager who was stabbed to death during a free-for-all fight, is outraged at the justice system after the 18-year-old charged with the murder was granted bail.
“This is not justice. The system has let us down,” a relative said outside the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
“In this country you can kill and get R1 500 bail. What is R1 500 compared to a child’s life?”
The relative, who did not want to be named, spoke to the Daily News after Cleo Romano Munsamy appeared in court for the murder of 16-year-old Dareshan Moodley.
Brothers Dareshan, 16, and Revarsheen Moodley, 18, were allegedly set upon by seven people on April 28 in Chatsworth.
Dareshan died and Revarsheen was taken to RK Khan Hospital.
Munsamy was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was granted bail by magistrate EM Mzolo.
The investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer A Singh, had told the court that he had received phone calls from people saying they would “deal with” Munsamy if he was released.
“I’m sure the Chatsworth community are law abiding citizens and they will accept any decision the court makes,” Mzolo said.
He said given Munsamy’s age it would be unfair of the court to refuse him bail.
Mzolo said awaiting-trial prisoners sometimes suffered abuse from other prisoners.
Leading evidence in court, Singh said Munsamy had been handed over to police by his uncle, a police officer.
“The murder weapon was found in his room under his pillow, and he led police to the weapon,” Singh said.
Under cross-examination by Munsamy’s attorney, Noven Naidoo, Singh admitted the weapon had not been taken for DNA testing.
“It has dirt and stuff on it and has not been tested. He had told me that he had buried it near the river and had gone back to get it as the knife did not belong to him and he wanted to return it to his friend,” Singh said.
Naidoo said his client intended pleading not guilty.
Munsamy had been walking home with seven friends on the day of the incident when they came across Dareshan Moodley who had been with eight people, Naidoo said. “An altercation ensued and a free-for-all fight broke out.”
Daily News