NELSPRUIT – The mastermind in the Valencia hand-grenade attack has had his second appeal granted.
Yegen Naidoo (44) appeared in the city’s High Court where his leave to appeal was granted for his sentencing and verdict.
Naidoo was previously denied his appeal with new evidence. He was expected to start serving his sentence this month. The matter will now be heard in the Pretoria High Court. A date has not been set as yet.
Last year the judge, Ms Ronel Tolmay had found Naidoo guilty of conspiring to commit murder and the murder of Ms Patricia Pillay (53) and her granddaughter, Yetska (9).
Naidoo had ordered the hit on them, in a hand-grenade attack at their Valencia home two days before Christmas in 2006.
Tolmay had sentenced him for two counts of murder, a life sentence for each. For two attempted murder counts, eight years each and for possession of illegal explosives, seven years and for conspiring to commit murder, seven years.
Tolmay said, “Naidoo assisted the Khans for financial reasons only. He had no concern for the people whose lives he would irrevocably change forever.”
Mohamed Ismail Khan (43), who is currently serving a life sentence for his involvement, had testified against Naidoo previously in the trial.
Naidoo had conspired with Mohamed and Zamud Amid Khan (54), who is also serving a life sentence for the bombing.
Both the Khans were sentenced in 2010.
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