A poster with the image of Nazreen Caajee, allegedly murdered by her husband.
- A man accused of killing his wife asked to be kept in a drug rehab center, not jail.
- Shaheed Cajee claimed that he and his wife were on drugs when she was killed.
- Cajee said he was addicted to drugs.
“You had enough time to rehab. You didn’t do it when the time was right.”
The magistrate, Nishani Beharie, lashed out at Shaheed Cajee during his bail application at the Johannesburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
Beharie subsequently denied Cajee bail.
Cajee, accused of killing his wife, Nazreen, claimed he was addicted to drugs.
His attorney, Jannie Kruger, pleaded that Cajee should not be jailed, but rather kept in a rehab center in Magaliesburg.
But Beharie said: “The court must look at the degree of violence. He has refuted everything in his statement. He has the right to remain silent. As we approached 16 days of activism against women and child abuse, his wife got a protective order against you. He later withdrew it. He was in captivity due to trauma.
“Her records show that she faced not three, but four domestic violence cases against her, which were later dropped by the deceased. She feared for her life or whatever was going to happen. The fact that she was on drugs neither here nor there You had enough time to rehabilitate and you didn’t, you’re an adult.
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“The courts are facing new bail amendments. You’re facing life in prison. This court has to look out for the best interests of your three children. You’ve had more than enough time to rehabilitate. I can’t guarantee you won’t.” to get out of the rehab center.
“There are reports of the presence of drugs in some rehabilitation centers. I am not convinced that by going to a rehab center you don’t take drugs, you endanger yourself, other people and your children.
“It is clear that there is strong circumstantial evidence against him. I am not satisfied that he is a suitable candidate to be released on bail. Therefore, he is denied bail,” Beharie added.
Kruger previously told the court that the Cajees were on a drug and alcohol binge for four or five days, without sleep, before Nazreen was killed.
“They lived together. After his arrest, he was taken to a doctor for examination. Hopefully, they drew blood. This was an unfortunate incident. All lives matter. (This crime) emanates from a domestic environment. There was violence between the parties. The issues were resolved or withdrawn. It seemed (like) a common practice. It continued until she died. Unfortunately, life must go on.
“My client intends to attend rehabilitation programs until he is cured. It can only be uninformed people who say that he should be in jail. We know of [the] overcrowding in prison There are no doctors or psychologists to assist him in prison. It is in the interest of society and justice that he be granted bail. You need to undergo treatment for 180 days. His father already paid a deposit to the rehab center in Magaliesburg.
“If he hadn’t finished treatment, we would be informed. After his rehab, he will be dealing with a different matter. He comes from an exceptional family. Unfortunately, he fell into drugs. He was involved in drugs for a long time.” Kruger said.
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“Because of his history of addiction, the couple should have made other decisions in life to avoid such circumstances. This court should find it in the interest of justice. It should not punish him. Taking him back to jail would be punishment.”
“There is a good chance he will change. He is not a flight risk. He will be detained at the Magaliesburg facility,” Kruger added.
The prosecutor, Desmond Mabunda, responded that Cajee seemed to be a dangerous person to society, seeing how his wife was killed.
“We object to the defense. The community is angry with him. This morning, the neighbors indicated that he should not be granted bail. Many cases were opened against him, although they were withdrawn. He faces a serious charge of murder The society is angry against gender violence (GBV). It is among those who did not want to be reprimanded for abusing women and children, “said Mabunda.
Shaheed is alleged to have stabbed Nazreen to death at her rental property in Emmarentia, north of Johannesburg, on December 6.
Her body was found after her son, concerned for his mother’s well-being, alerted his neighbor.
bloody scene
The boy reported to a neighbor that his father was covered in blood and felt that his mother was not well.
The neighbor ran to the place.
“Upon entering the house, Cajee was sitting in the living room. They asked him where his wife was. He responded by pointing to the bedroom. The neighbor went to the bedroom and found the victim’s body covered with a blanket. There was blood everywhere. the bedroom floor,” police spokeswoman Mavela Masondo said at the time.
Cajee is expected to return to court on January 31.
