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Murder

Durban High Court Hands Down Verdict in Lecturer Murder Case

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Durban High Court has handed down verdicts in the trial of four men accused of kidnapping and murdering a 63-year-old electrical engineering lecturer, Chanlall Dwarika, from the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Siyabonga Mahaye, Thobani Mhlongo, and Kwanele Makhaye were found guilty of kidnapping and robbery, while only Mhlongo and Makhaye were convicted of murder. The fourth accused, Sihle Mkhize, was acquitted of all charges.

Key Takeaways:

  • Two of the four men accused of kidnapping and murdering 63-year-old Chanlall Dwarika were found guilty of the crime. Mhlongo and Makhaye were convicted of murder, while Mahaye and Mkhaye were convicted of kidnapping and robbery.
  • Dwarika was kidnapped on May 28, 2023, and his body was found in a bushy area in Inanda on June 3, 2023.
  • The court found that Dwarika was viewed as a source of easy money by the accused, who likely saw him as a means to collect unpaid wages.
  • Three of the accused, Mahaye, Mhlongo, and Makhaye, were classified by the court as "lowlifes" for their behaviors, which included forcing Dwarika into the rear of his Honda CR-V and killing him.
  • Judge Khosi Hadebe stated that the State proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, satisfying the court that the accused were guilty of all charges.
  • The widow of Dwarika, Janitha Dwarika, was emotional after the court handed down the verdict, highlighting the impact of the crime on her family.
  • Dwarika's daughter, Ayuushi Dwarika-Rajbansi, expressed sadness over the ordeal her father suffered and wished they could have known sooner to help.

Statistics:

  • 63 years: The age of the deceased, Chanlall Dwarika
  • 40 years: The duration of marriage between Chanlall and Janitha Dwarika
  • 3: The number of accused men found guilty of kidnapping and robbery (Mahaye and Mkhaye)
  • 2: The number of accused men convicted of murder (Mhlongo and Makhaye)
  • 3 accused: The number of men who forced Chanlall Dwarika into his Honda CR-V
  • 1: The number of accused acquitted of all charges (Sihle Mkhize)

Sources:

  • [Court verdict as reported in The Daily News]
  • [Judge Khosi Hadebe's ruling as reported in The Times of South Africa]
  • [Statement from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) as reported in The Star]

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