E-Paper
S African Indian man hacks sister to death
An Indian origin psychiatric patient in Durban allegedly hacked his sister to death, in front of her son. 44-year-old unemployed Ravin Baruthwaj, reportedly a devout man, hacked his sister Rhona Chetty, 38, with a bush knife.
An Indian origin psychiatric patient in Durban allegedly hacked his sister to death, in front of her son. 44-year-old unemployed Ravin Baruthwaj, reportedly a devout man, hacked his sister Rhona Chetty, 38, with a bush knife.
He told police that God had told him to "sacrifice" her in a midnight ritual and to wake her son Ashirvad to watch it.
The traumatised boy, whose father is believed to be a Pakistani national and is absconding, is receiving intense counselling as he keeps drawing pictures of the bloody ritual that happened last Saturday.
Baruthwaj had been separated from his wife and was surviving on a social grant while he received psychiatric treatment.
Police found his diary which detailed his "special relationship" with God and his frustration at the grant being stopped.
Baruthwaj is now under 24-hour police guard after twice attempting suicide while in custody.
