A man accused of murdering a mother of four by dousing her with petrol and setting her alight is trying to get out of a life sentence by negotiating a plea bargain where he would only serve 12 years behind bars.
But Mishkaah Fakier’s family and the investigating officers have rejected the plea and want alleged mert Eldridge “Spongebob” du Plessis to get life.
Du Plessis made an appearance at the Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday on a charge of premeditated murder and has now appointed a Legal Aid lawyer as he is no longer able to afford his attorney’s fees.
The case was remanded to 28 August for trial.
GONE: Mishkaah Fakier
Prosecutors are set to prove that in January 2018, Du Plessis allegedly set Mishkaah, 44, alight by dousing her with petrol in Hangberg, Hout Bay, after beating her up.
Mishkaah died of her injuries at Victoria Hospital in Wynberg later that evening.
Witnesses told the Daily Voice that Mishkaah was a drug addict and drug runner for Du Plessis.
He had accused her of stealing drugs from him but on her deathbed, Mishkaah told her family: “It wasn’t me.”
Relative Diana Davids said Mishkaah was beaten and made to wipe up her own blood.
During this time Du Plessis allegedly sent someone to buy petrol.
CASE: Vrou’s grim murder
He then poured the fuel on Mishkaah and set her alight.
The badly injured woman managed to run to her friend Alicia Abrahams’ home, who said “her face was black and her clothes were shredded.”
“She told me the name of the man who did this to her,” Alicia said.
Du Plessis’ bail application carried on for nine months until he was denied freedom, based on the testimony of investigating officer, Charl Miller.
Miller said the accused had two previous cases of assault against him where he used hammers to attack people.
Miller said Du Plessis had a “short fuse” and was a danger to society.
On Wednesday, Mishkaah’s cousin, Fadwah Vardien, 54, said they want her voice to be heard during Women’s Month and demanded a trial.
HORRIBLE DEATH: The burnt body of Mishkaah in Hout Bay
She says there was also an eerie moment in court: “During the bail application, there was a burning smell in the courtroom which left even the magistrate baffled. But we believe that was Mishkaah, wanting her voice to be heard.
“The defence wanted a plea bargain claiming there were no credible witnesses, but there were eight people present the day of the incident, four women and four men.
“Mishkaah herself, after she was burnt, managed to run to her cousin’s home and said it was Spongebob who did it.
“We want life imprisonment.”
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za