Assaulted on the morning of Valentine’s Day, Sheik Mohammad Mozaheer Mahamoodally, 44, did not survive his injuries. This resident of rue James Slade, Plaine-Lauzun passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning February 20. He died as a result of a fractured skull.
The victim was attacked with a stone to the head by Nadeem Murthen, 25 years old. He went to the victim’s house with a sword and accused him of stealing electrical wires from his house to settle the score. The suspect, who lives in the same locality, explains that he seized a stone to defend himself.
This case dates back to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, February 14, when the Pailles police station was informed that Mozaheer Mahamoodally had been admitted to the Dr. A.G. Jeetoo Hospital, Port-Louis. The man, who had injuries to his face and head, was bleeding heavily after an assault. After being examined, he simply stated “mo pa konne ki sanlafinn bat mwa”. He was then admitted to room L-2. An entry for ‘serious assault with premeditation’ was opened at the Pailles Police Station at around 8:30 a.m. the same day. He was then transferred to the High Intensive Care Unit. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Metropolitan Police of the South Division was informed of this case.
After the death of the 40-year-old, the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) of the Port Louis Division was assigned to the case. These investigators carried out a raid on the field and interviewed several witnesses. They learned that the victim had had a heated argument with Nadeem Murthen on February 14, who was accused of stealing electrical wires from his home. This theft would date back to three months ago. Naseem Murrthen was arrested and soon confessed to the crime. However, he denied having committed the theft from the victim’s home.
The forty-year-old was determined to get revenge on Nadeem Murthen, whom he suspected to be the author of this theft. The sword used by the victim was recovered by Pailles police officers from a dead end street where Nadeem Murthen lives after they were alerted by police officers stationed at Dr. Jeetoo Hospital.
Both the victim and the suspect are registered with the police. Mozaheer Mahamoodally lived separately from his wife. Her mother and Nadeem Murthen’s mother are both childhood friends. Before being brought before the court of Port-Louis this Monday morning, February 21, Nadeem Murthen participated in a reconstruction of the facts. He told the MCIT investigators the different places where he was on Monday, February 14. The suspect was kept in a police cell until Monday, February 28.
According to the autopsy performed at Dr. Jeetoo Hospital on Sunday, February 20 by Dr. Maxwell Monvoisin, Principal Police Medical Officer, the victim died of a fractured skull.
