One year ago, the community of Ladysmith woke up to a shocking discovery. On Friday morning, June 17, 2016, the body of 67-year-old Mrs Zarina Moola was discovered in her house in the Smartiesville area of Ladysmith by her domestic worker.
The subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of Ridwaan Hussein Motala (27) and co-accused Adhil Buckus Bridgemohan (29). The two accused were sentenced in the Ezakheni Regional Court on Tuesday this week (June 20).
The two stood accused of murder, housebreaking with intent to steal, robbery with aggravating circumstances, as well as theft. The deceased lived alone and one of the accused, Motala, lived close by.
The two accused gained access into Mrs Moola’s house and Motala killed Mrs Moola after she woke up to find them ransacking her house.
The court heard how the two calmly ‘scored’ drugs from a nearby drug dealer after the frenzied attack.
The two accused were sentenced as follows:
Ridwaan Hussein Motala was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to steal, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and life imprisonment for murder. The sentences are to run concurrently with the life sentence.
Adhil Buckus Bridgemohan was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to steal and seven years for theft. Both accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by Warrant Officer Dave Warmenhoven from the Ladysmith Detective Service.
For the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
