‘We forgive them, but let law take its course,’ say grieving parents

A week after the brutal murder of her son, a grieving Overport mother only wishes for peace.

Tracy and Benjamin Pillay, parents to slain student, Kurtlee Benjamin Pillay, who was brutally murdered in an alleged hijacking last Tuesday evening said they forgive the three young suspects who were arrested a day after their son’s murder.

“This is a big loss to our family because Kurtlee was such a loveable, helpful child. We do not want to talk about this anymore because i’ts really hard,” Benjamin told Berea Mail.

“We do forgive them (suspects) but want the law to take its course and justice for Kurtlee,” he added.

A police source close to the investigation revealed that Kurtlee was allegedly lured by his attackers, one of whom was known to him, under the pretence of assisting the three with car trouble in Overport. The 20-year-old design student at the Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design was allegedly stabbed repeatedly and dragged in his own car, a VW Golf, along West Riding Row in Sherwood. He went into cardiac arrest as paramedics tried to assist him and succumbed to his injuries.

Three suspects were arrested in South Beach last Wednesday morning. The three men aged 20, 21 and 26 cannot be named until they have been asked to plead. They made a brief appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last Friday and are expected back in court at the end of this week. They have been charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and hijacking.

According to Domenic King, one of the last people to see the student alive and an active member of the Sydenham community, Kurtlee was watching the Liverpool and Real Madrid soccer match at his home on Tuesday night with King’s son, Kyle and another friend.

“While the boys were watching the match Kurtlee’s phone kept beeping and he complained that a girl was sending him messages. He told his friends that he was not getting involved because he had a girlfriend. However, as they watched the match the messages continued. Kurtlee then got a message from someone he knew asking for his help. Despite my son and Jarred discouraging him from leaving, he eventually got up around 10pm and said he was going home.

“The boys went down to the driveway and chatted for a while not realising that was the last they would see him alive,” King said.

The police source revealed the suspects allegedly lured Kurtlee to where they were waiting for him in Overport and attacked him.

“They got into Kurtlee’s car and drove off to Sydenham and then West Riding Row in Sherwood where they stabbed him and threw him into the bush before driving off in his car. They thought he was dead but later went back to check,” he said.

The trio allegedly knocked the injured student down as he staggered into the road looking for help. “Kurtlee fell under the car and was entangled for about 200m before he fell off,” said the source.

A security guard who witnessed Kurtlee being flung off the vehicle alerted police and emergency services.

According to King, in the wake of the tragedy, the Sydenham community has rallied behind the Pillay family.

“We have asked people to petition for the harshest sentence for the three accused so they can get no bail and not just be charged with murder but premeditated murder. We want the suspects to receive the full extent of the law. We have asked people to like our Facebook page: Sydenham-Overport-Asherville-Sherwood and put their names and comments on the posts by Thursday evening so that responses will be printed and added to the police docket and will be used when the magistrate determines their sentence.

Meanwhile, the greater Durban community was equally outraged by the murder of Shrivaar Panday who was fatally stabbed in Morningside last Monday morning. The community have rallied together to create a petition for justice.

The page: Justice for Shrivaar Panday states, “Awareness must be created for Shrivaar Panday. Through a unified voice and front we can make a difference and pressure the investigation process. We cannot sit by and let the case be lost. Pass the petition along! With numbers we can make a difference in finding the scum that took Shrivaar away.”

Major Thulani Zwane, provincial police spokesman appealed for witnesses to the fatal stabbing of Shrivaar Panday to contact Mayville police detectives with information on 031 20371 81. No arrests have yet been made in this case.