“I could have mistaken the gunshots for fireworks”, says Treasurer
Murder accused Brian Treasurer who was fingered as orchestrating the murder of Raisethorpe doctor Bhavish Sewram, on behalf of businessman Rajivee Soni, has denied all involvement in the crime.
Murder accused Brian Treasurer who was fingered as orchestrating the murder of Raisethorpe doctor Bhavish Sewram on behalf of businessman Rajivee Soni, has denied all involvement in the crime.
Taking the stand after his application to have the charges against him dismissed, Treasurer denied:
Knowing Dr Sewram;
Conspiring to murder to Dr Sewram;
Contracting anyone to kill Dr Sewram;
Providing the gun used to kill Dr Sewram;
Owing anyone any money in relation to the murder of Dr Sewram; and,
Hearing any gunshots while he waited for his co-accused Nxumalo and convicted murderer Sabelo Advocate Dlamini to return to the car, after ‘giving them a lift’ to Raisethorpe at the time of Dr. Sewram’s murder.
Sewram was shot dead outside his surgery in May 2013. The state alleges that Sewram’s former friend Rajivee Soni planned and paid as he believed the doctor was having an affair with his wife.
Treasurer on Wednesday conceded that he was in the vicinity of the murder scene but was there as he had given co-accused Nxumalo and Dlamini a lift to the latter’s house in Raisethorpe to pick up some money. He claimed that Nxumalo worked for him doing odd jobs at his crèche in Copesville and that he owed Dlamini R1200, also for work undertaken at the crèche.
“I was elated on that day and would have taken Nxumalo to the moon and back because the crèche was finished and there were only a few touch-ups to be done,” said Treasurer.
He told the court he stopped the car to drop-off Nxumalo and Dlamini at the footpath on Ramphal Road that led to Chota Motala Road, ‘hoping not to wait more than ten minutes’. He denied giving a firearm to either of the men or having any conversation about a gun. He said he then parked his car behind Fusion Lounge and walked to the footpath.
“I saw two figures running up and made my way to the vehicle quickly because I wanted to meet and pick them up at the corner”. He said he then drove Nxumalo back to his home in Mason’s Mill, Copesville and that they met Nxumalo’s friend and pastor Thamsanqa George Mkhize. He said he then paid Dlamini R1200 that he owed him for work done at the crèche.
Treasurer claimed to have then driven the men to Ashdown to see a traditional healer. He says he waited in the car and didn’t ask any questions. He then drove them back to Copesville.
He also denied giving Nxumalo a bag containing the murder weapon and money.
“I know the seriousness of having a licensed firearm and how strict the rules are. I would never have let them in my car if I had known what they did. I treated Nxumalo like a friend who I saw as a business partner for the crèche I was building. Dlamini came to the crèche looking for work,” testified Treasurer.
State prosecutor Advocate Johan du Toit pointed out that Treasurer’s version did not correspond with the CCTV footage that was entered into evidence.
“The CCTV footage is not 100% clear,” countered Treasurer.
Nxumalo’s advocate Dianne Franklin put it to Treasurer that the reason he ran away from the pather back to his car was because he had heard the gunshots.
“I didn’t hear anything. I had music playing, there could have been a car and also it is an Indian area where fireworks are common, so I didn’t notice any gunshots. I was also higher than the surgery,” replied Treasurer.
Franklin questioned Treasurer about why he telephone Soni at 7.10pm on the night of the murder.
“The phone was under my handbrake and could have accidentally dialed. I didn’t check or know who it was dialing and only heard it ringing because it interfered with the radio. The call went to voicemail and I cut the call,” said Treasurer.
Explaining his relationship to Soni Treasurer told the court that he bought building material from the Mountain Rise businessman and that at the time he owed Soni around R25 000.
Treasurer also testified that he had R72 000 in cash that was kept with a friend and that from that amount he used R50 000 to pay for his bail leaving a balance of R22 000. He then withdrew R30 000 from his bank account to help Nxumalo get legal assistance after his arrest. He also claimed that Dlamini had asked him for R50 000 saying that he would blame Nxumalo for the murder. Treasurer said he refused to pay him this money.
The case continues.
