“Cold-blooded killer” Rajivee Soni sent to prison for 30 years

A haggard-looking Soni, who hugged and greeting his family as soon as he appeared in the dock, said he had no comment and whatever he had wished to say to his family he had said to them in person, Public Eye reports.

Throughout proceedings, he stared at the judge except for when tears trickled down his cheek as the Judge ruled out his submission for a lenient sentence because he was a primary care-giver to his 10-year-old daughter and six-year-old son.

Taking into detailed consideration factors in aggravation and mitigation of sentencing, Judge Hendriques said Soni acted in accordance to his ego and selfish needs and after committing the crimes to drive Sewram  out of town he could have stopped.

“After his plans to humiliate and denigrate Sewram failed, he had sufficient time to call a halt to his plans and put the past behind him. But he went further carefully planning and monitoring another plot to ensure it succeeded, giving no thought to the fact that two families would be affected and lives irreversibly altered,” said Judge Hendriques.

Ruling out the defence’s mitigating submission that the killing was a crime of passion and accepting, for sentencing, the State’s submission that Soni only thought about himself and his need for revenge (and did not have any regard for the consequences that his children and family would have to face in his quest for revenge) when he planned and executed the “cold-blooded killing” of Doctor Bhavish Sewram.

“The accused embarked on a campaign over a long period of time. He did not act in a fit of rage. The accused had sufficient time to stop.  Sewram was arrested and had to appear in court. He was shot in full view of his secretary. “His body lay on the cold concrete floor, his body had to be taken to the State mortuary and his father Parmanand Sewram had to identify his son. He had to bury his 33- year old son. And they say it is the worst thing to bury a son,” said Judge Hendriques.

Sewram’s widow,  Yuvadia no amount of punishment would ever bring back my husband.

“Soni brought this upon himself through his cowardliness and ego. It is very sad to see that his family and children will suffer the consequences of his evil actions. He will be monitored so he won’ t be up to his tricks again,” said Yuvadia.

Sewram’s father Paramanand Sewram said they were disappointed with the sentencing as they expected a life sentence.

” The sentence handed down is not appropriate for the loss of life.  The loss of a child via a despicable deed is a loss that can never be overcome. Nevertheless, we as a family, wish to thank the investigating officer and prosecutor for a job well done,” he said.

Soni, who will be held at the Napierville Prison, will appear in the Durban High Court again on November 21 when an appeal on the judgement and sentence will be heard.

Sewram was shot and killed outside his surgery on May 13, 2013.