Life sentences have been handed down to three members of a Chatsworth family for the cold-blooded murder of their nanny, a woman they had cynically employed with the sole intention of killing her for a substantial life insurance payout.
The convicted individuals, Amdhew Chuttergoon (49), his wife Managie Jessica Chuttergoon (49), and their daughter Thurashni Naidoo, had maintained their innocence, claiming that 52-year-old Rashree Dwarika had met with a tragic accident and drowned in the swimming pool of a holiday home they had rented in Umzumbe in June of last year. However, the Port Shepstone High Court, presided over by Judge Garth Harrison, saw through their web of lies.
Details of the murder case
The court heard how the family’s plan was set in motion when they placed an advertisement for a nanny. Their search, however, was laced with malicious intent. They specifically sought a single woman with no immediate family ties, making her a less-likely-to-be-missed target for their scheme. Rashree Dwarika, a mother to two adult children, was employed in mid-May 2023.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: SPAR to sponsor four provincial rugby teams
It was then that the family’s sinister plot began to unfold. State evidence revealed that Managie Chuttergoon and Thurashni Naidoo impersonated Ms Dwarika to make contact with Discovery Life. They then proceeded to forge her signature on documentation for a life insurance policy valued at a staggering R750,000.
A prosecutor involved in the case stated,
“The evidence clearly showed that the deceased was never aware of the policy taken out in her name. She was an unwitting pawn in their greedy game.”
The Chilling Digital Paper Trail
The family’s haste to see their scheme through ultimately contributed to their downfall. The policy was scheduled to commence on July 1, but on June 15, a call was made to Discovery. The caller, identified by voice recognition experts as Thurashni Naidoo pretending to be the nanny, urgently requested to pay a double premium to backdate the cover to June 1. This crucial piece of evidence was presented in court.
Perhaps the most damning evidence of their murderous intent came from their own digital communications. A WhatsApp message sent by Thurashni Naidoo, referring to medical tests Ms Dwarika had to undergo for the fraudulent medical aid, laid bare their cruel intentions. She wrote,
“She better do the bloods. I need her to kick the bucket.” Judge Harrison remarked that this message provided a clear window into the accused’s mindset.
Life Sentences For Family Who Murdered Nanny For Insurance Money
Rashree Dwarika died just days later, on June 25. While a post-mortem examination confirmed drowning as the cause of death, the state successfully argued that this was not an accident but a deliberate act of murder.
ALSO READ: Julius Malema Could Lose Parliamentary Seat After Guilty Gun Verdict
After the family attempted to claim the R750,000 payout, their claim was rejected due to mounting suspicions. They were arrested in September, denied bail, and remained in custody throughout their trial.
Passing sentence, Judge Garth Harrison found the crimes to be premeditated and heinous. The three were convicted on charges of murder and fraud, receiving life sentences for their primary role in ending an innocent woman’s life. A police investigator close to the case concluded,
“This was a calculated and callous crime. They treated a human life as a mere transaction, and today, they have been made to pay the ultimate price.”
Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates
The post Life Sentences For Family Who Murdered Nanny For Insurance Money appeared first on iHarare News.
