A Phoenix man who killed his girlfriend and then set her body alight after he saw “a phone call from her ex-boyfriend”, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
In the Durban High Court on Monday, Shaun Naicker, 42, pleaded guilty to the murder of Nivashini Jackie Naidoo, 35.
He has entered into a sentence agreement with the State.
Naicker was sentenced to 18 years for murder and four years for arson.
Two years of the arson sentence will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
In May, 2021, Naidoo was found dead in the flat in Wareham Place, Westham. She had shared the flat with Naicker – who was her partner of three years at the time – and her son, 12.
The cause of Naidoo’s death was determined to be thermal burns.
A carbon monoxide level report proved that she was still alive at the time she was set alight.
In his plea, Naicker said on the date of the incident, while he was preparing to go to work, Naidoo had requested he run an errand for her.
However, an argument ensued a short while later.
He said the argument started when Naidoo’s phone rang and he passed it to her. He saw the call was from her ex-boyfriend.
He said he asked Naidoo why her ex-boyfriend was still calling her.
Naicker said he became violent and angry.
He hit Naidoo once with an open hand and a physical fight followed. He said they exchanged blows, and he strangled her with his bare hands until she “lost power”. He then let go of her.
“She just remained motionless on the floor and was not breathing. I suspected I might have killed her, and decided to take paraffin and poured it on the floor and lit it. The fire started and I went outside and closed the door behind me, leaving her in the burning room,” read his plea.
He said he had the car keys in his pocket and drove away from the house, and he ended up at Britannia Hotel on Umgeni Road.
In court, Naidoo’s sister, Colleen Vermeulen, openly sobbed as Naicker confirmed the merits of his plea.
After the sentencing, she told the POST that while she was glad that Naicker had pleaded guilty and would be behind bars for 20 years, she still found it hard to find closure.
She said she thought the sentencing would bring her some relief, but it did not.
“The loss of my sister has shattered my life and that of my family.
“She was the youngest of us and was the glue that held our family together. The trauma of that day continues to haunt me daily.
“I watched as my baby sister’s body was taken away in a bag and I could not even kiss her goodbye or see her face. I suffer with anxiety and depression, making basic tasks like work, caring for my child and maintaining my household an insurmountable challenge.
“The day Jackie was killed, our elder sister had a seizure in her (Jackie’s) yard, and due to her being hospitalised, she had missed Jackie’s funeral,” she added.
Vermeulen said she hoped Naidoo’s death would be an eye-opener to other women stuck in the cycle of gender-based violence.
“One slap, one punch or one hit is all it should take for a woman to walk away. Jackie was hit with a dumbbell on her head a year before she was found burnt to death in her home.
“She sustained extensive head injuries and this was recorded in the indictment. On the day she was killed, she was expecting a protection order to be served on Naicker.
“I urge women to learn from my sister’s death and encourage them to walk away before it is too late. Seek help.
“Although the State had done a great job, I wish the death penalty could be reinstated. If it was, then I think less women would die at the hands of men,” she added.
The Naidoo family commended the investigating team and State prosecutor advocate Thabani Buthelezi for their commitment to the case.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our case.
“Their tireless efforts to keep us informed throughout the process and ensure that justice was served, have not gone unnoticed.
“We also appreciate the SA Outreach team for their guidance and support throughout the procedures, and Pastor Simeon and Debbie Iyer for their unwavering emotional support, prayers and presence during this challenging time,” Vermeulen said.