Allandale club murder: Sister of slain Benjamin Joseph takes the stand

The accused, Riaz Mea and Wesley Muthusamy listened attentively as the deceased’s sister Mona Munisamy was the first witness in a three-day trial, Public Eye reports.

Munisamy said her siblings and friends decided to celebrate her wedding anniversary at a club in Allandale on May 17, 2019.

“My friends, husband, brothers and I decided to celebrate my wedding anniversary at the local club. We got to the club at around 9:30 pm. We were all dancing and then we decided to go to our table. My two brothers and their two friends, who were standing at a table near a pillar, decided to return to the dance floor when Benjamin’s favourite song began playing. As they were dancing, an unknown female started dancing between my brothers and their friends. When the song was over, they returned to our table. I did not see where the unknown female went to. The next few moments we saw accused number two, poking at Benjamin’s face with his finger and swearing at him.

“Benjamin did not retaliate and looked like he did not think anything of it. My other brother, Leo Joseph, then asked them why they were causing a problem. The bouncers then intervened and separated them. I then realised that the unknown female was probably the wife or the girlfriend of accused number two. Accused number two and the female then left and were at another end of the club. I was still seated at the table and I could see that they were continuously swearing and pointing at Benjamin, Leo and his friends. When I saw that, I approached accused number two and the female, I asked them what the problem was to which she responded, ‘No problem’ and I walked away,” said Munisamy.

She said Joseph and his friends returned to the dance floor.

“That’s when I saw accused number two-approach them from the back with a bottle in his hand and I alerted the bouncer. The bouncer approached and then asked them to leave the club. As they were going accused number one then spoke with accused number two who was standing near the stairs.

“Accused number one then spoke with my brother Leo and went downstairs. I then saw Leo, Benjamin and their friends leaving and I went behind them to check that they were leaving safely. The bouncer then told me not to go out of the gates. I watched from that area as there was enough lighting.

Then I saw accused number two with two sword-like weapons coming toward Leo. The female then hit Leo and he fell to the ground. I pushed the bouncer and ran towards them. The female swore at me and told me that we do not know who they are, they are not playing and will show us what they are made of,” said Munisamy.

She said the female began to hit her and she hit back.

“The bouncers then separated us, and then I was still standing by the bouncers. The next moment, I saw all of them standing and talking in a group with accused number one and accused number two. I saw Benjamin just fall to the ground,” she said.

The trial continues.