Friday, 04 November 2011

Frustration at murder trial delay

Murder accused Keegan Govender is escorted into the holding cells at Mtunzini Magistrate’s Court by Richards Bay SAP officer G Muruvan

The trial of the man accused of the brutal murder of a Brackenham resident in January last year, was remanded on two consecutive days this week - much to the disappointment of investigators and witnesses present and prepared for trial. Nineteen year-old Keegan Govender’s trial was set down for 31 October to 11 November at the Mtunzini Magistrates’ Court, but will now only proceed on Monday.

The trial was remanded on Monday and rolled over to Tuesday after the presiding judge had a vehicle breakdown. But on Tuesday the matter was remanded again in favour of another trial which had to be finalised as a matter of priority. Govender was arrested in January last year with co-accused Michelle Nadasen (22) following the gruesome murder of Gansen Gounder. His body was found in the crocodile infested Nseleni River. It is alleged that Govender hit Gounder with a spade, buried him in his then girlfriend Nadasen’s backyard, exhumed the body four days later and dumped it in the river.

Nadasen has since been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment after a full confession in March 2010. The trials were separated following Nadasen’s conviction.