Venkat Raman
The fate of an Auckland pair found guilty of murdering a young man two years ago will be known on May 7. A jury delivered its guilty verdict on March 27, 2015.
The High Court in Auckland will deliver its sentence on Shivneel Shahil Kumar (21) and Bryne Permal (22) on proven charges of murdering their friend Shalvin Prasad.
Police found the burning body of Shalvin on January 31, 2013 in a small patch of scrub in the side of a dead-end road, close to a largely deserted ground of the former Kingseat Psychiatric Hospital following a phone call from a member of the public around 630 am.
Following the end of the trial, the Jury took three days to reach guilty verdict.
Earlier, the jury was shown CCTV footage of Permal buying petrol in containers shortly before he and Kumar burned Mr Prasad to death.
No emotion
Kumar and Permal have been remanded in custody.
TV One News said that they showed seemingly little emotion during the month long trial, but as the guilty verdicts were handed down the pair looked visibly shocked.
“Kumar’s breathing appeared to become ragged and uneven, and he began running his fingers through his hair.”
Great Result
Counties Manukau Detective Inspector Dave Lynch described the verdict as “a great result for Mr Prasad’s family following a thorough investigation.”
“We have had a great team of investigators working hard on this case and we are pleased to be able to deliver this result for Shalvin’s family,” he said.
Shalvin’s brother Pravin Prasad said, “We feel today finally holds these evil criminals accountable for the malicious death of my brother Shalvin … I would like to thank the jury,” he told media after the jury pronounced its verdict.
Money cause
The Court heard that Shalvin had withdrawn his life savings of $30,000 from the bank the previous day. During the trial, the Crown had claimed that more than 450 texts showed how Shivneel planned to get the money from Shalvin.
Crown Prosecutor Aaron Perkins said that there was nothing accidental or coincidental about these two men ending up with Shalvin’s money.
“Those two things are inextricably linked … the money and the death.”
Photo : Shalvin Prasad, Murdered by friends
