Florida fire: Double murder accused appears in court

Mark Brian Harvey (44) has been charged with the murder of Zakkiyah Rayman (38) and Marishka Davids (30). He allegedly doused them with petrol and set them alight in Florida, on February 11.

The horrendous incident took place after an alleged altercation between Davids and Harvey occurred. That same evening Rayman was spending the night and was unfortunately roped into the quarrel. Farhaad Sardiwalla from the Florida Community Police Forum was contacted at 03:35 and rushed to the property.

“We tried to get an ambulance and firefighters involved as quickly as possible,” Sardiwalla says.

Both women suffered third-degree burns. Rayman passed away on February 18 while Davids continued fighting for her life in the ICU. Unfortunately, Davids passed away last night (February 27) leaving her family distraught.

Florida police were on the lookout for Harvey who was arrested in Bellavista on February 19.

Upon his arrest, the case was postponed for further medical treatment for his burn wounds at Leratong Hospital.

Harvey made his second appearance today, February 28 where the decision was made by the magistrate to postpone the case for further verification.

“We just want to see justice prevail because this man robbed both families of a daughter and robbed their children of a mother,” Sazel Rayman, the father of Zakiyah, said.

The case is postponed to March 6 and will resume in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court.