The brutal murder of 59-year-old Mrs Rashida Karrim in November 2011 has left a bitter taste in the mouth for residents of the close-knit Smartiesville community after only one of the murder accused was sentenced in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court.
The accused was convicted of house robbery and culpable homicide.
The case reached its conclusion in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court at the end of last month.
The murder in November 2011 shocked and angered the community of Ladysmith.
Mrs Karrim lived alone in Maple Crescent and was known to keep to herself for the most part.
On the night of November 12, 2011, robbers gained access to her house through the back door, ripping through her burglar guard gate.
A neighbour returning from night duty noticed that something was amiss at Mrs Karrim’s house and went to investigate.
He found her in a crumpled ball in the shower, unconscious and barely alive.
When police arrived, they found that the house had been ransacked and blood was splattered everywhere. Mrs Karrim had been assaulted and stabbed repeatedly. She was immediately taken to hospital and later transferred to Grey’s Hospital. She died there several days later.
(This is why the accused faced charges of culpable homicide and not murder, the time between the attack and her death playing an important role)
A case of attempted murder and house robbery was opened, and six men were arrested by the Ladysmith K9, CIG and Visible Policing Unit shortly after the incident.
The case was concluded in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, April 22, last month.
Magistrate Visagie convicted and sentenced 22-year-old Mduduzi Msibi, who was linked to the crime scene by forensic evidence through the work of the Ladysmith Criminal Record & Crime Scene Management Unit. Msibi was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for house robbery and 15 years for culpable homicide.
Three other accused, aged between 21 and 25, received suspended sentences for being in possession of suspected stolen property. They were sentenced to 12 years, suspended for five years. Two other accused were acquitted of the charges against them.
Warrant Officer Sanjeeth Balgobindh of Ladysmith Detective Services investigated the case against the accused.
He was commended by Ladysmith Regional Court prosecutor Mr Rangasamy, as well as case prosecutor Mrs Mosia.
