Kurtlee Pillay murder suspects return to court
Friends, family and community members were disappointed when the three suspects accused of Kurtlee Pillay's murder were remanded into police custody at Sydenham SAPS instead of Westville Prison this morning.
FRIENDS and family of slain Kurtlee Benjamin Pillay as well as concerned community members filled Durban Magistrates Court 10 on Friday morning when the three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Kurtlee Pillay appeared before magistrate Vanitha Armu.
The state prosecutor Krishan Shar asked the magistrate if the matter could be postponed to 26 November and the three accused, Blaine Raman, 20, Dinesh Nana, 21 and Bilal Tayob, 26 to be remanded in custody at Sydenham Police Station.
Shar said the postponement was due to three reasons. Raman was being referred to the district surgeon for a mental assessment, Tayob was negotiating with the director of public prosecutions, and to allow for bail consideration in respect of Nana and any of the other accused who may opt to apply for bail..
Armu agreed to the request, declaring that Raman, Nana and Tayob be remanded into custody at Sydenham holding cells to facilitate any further discussions until Tuesday 26 November where they could apply for bail.
A disappointed Kenny Naidoo, wearing a t-shirt in tribute to his best friend Kurtlee Pillay said, “I was hoping for more. This is unfair, they confessed, why does the justice system take so long?”
Kurtlee’s uncle Bentley Pillay told Berea Mail, “I hoped they would at least be detained at Westville Prison by now. Our family has no closure knowing that his killers still have it easy in police cells and now that they are considering bail applications.
“It looks like its going to be a long process. It’s not just our family that want justice for my nephew, but the community is demanding it!”
Benjamin Pillay, Kurtlee’s father, said: “We only want justice served for my son and family. This is all very hard and taking a toll on us all especially my wife.”
