griffinbradley
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He Raped and Killed His Aunt For R1 500
Raped and brutally murdered for R1 500 that was needed to pay off a cellphone debt. That’s why Newlands East mother Freda Travira was callously killed by her sister’s son, Waleed Karriem last week.
Now his mother fears he may take his own life.
Karriem pleaded guilty in the Durban High Court this week to the murder and was given two life sentences. Out on bail when he committed the murder, Karriem gave graphic details in his plea of how he killed his aunt.
He said he had attacked her from behind, putting his arm around her neck and strangling her.
“I took her head and banged it against the wall and floor and stamped on her back. I went to the bathroom, took a bowl and filled it with water. I picked up her head and put the bowl under her face,” he said.
He then sodomised and raped her, only then realising Travira had died.
“After having sexual intercourse with her, that’s when I realised she was dead,” he said.
And he did this simply to pay off a R1 500 debt he had rung up in cellphone accounts.
Karriem was going out with Travira’s 19-year-old daughter Astrid – his first cousin – and both had plotted to have her killed in order to benefit from her insurance.
Yesterday a distraught Gail Steyn, Karriem’s mother, told of how she had been left to pick up the pieces of this heinous crime that has torn her family apart. She also has to take care of her 18-month-old grandchild – Karriem and Astrid’s child.
Initially reluctant to talk, Steyn opened up after a second call from Karriem from prison made her angry. He was calling to ask her to give him more cellphone airtime.
Speaking at her home in Newlands East, with the soothing lilt of gospel music in the background, Steyn lamented the loss of her sister.
“Freda was harmless. She was the most harmless person I know. She was willing to be second best just to avoid conflict. This whole thing is so terrible.
“As a family we are constantly going through trying times. It has been one fire after the other. I hope through the grace of God that we can actually get through all this.
“Their bills were only about R1 500 for the cellphones they owned. Just R1 500. Now look at the damage their actions have caused,” she said.
Karriem, out on early parole for a previous rape conviction and still to face rape charges relating to two separate incidents, lived with Travira and Astrid.
“It’s three losses for me, my sister is gone, my son and niece are in jail,” the mother said.
“My family (her brother and another sister) have been very supportive. We realise that we need to pull together at this difficult time.
“But I’ve been getting accusing looks from some people in the community.
“I know they are whispering about this whole messy episode,” she commented.
Steyn’s phone rang persistently as we talked and eventually she headed off to take the call.
“…this is a very terrible thing that happened, it’s too stressful for me, I’ve got reporters at the door… I’ll see what I can do,” the woman was heard saying to the caller.
Coming back, she said: “It’s Waleed… he wants airtime. This is the second call he has made. Astrid also called yesterday, she wants me to get her toiletries,” Steyn said.
When quizzed about her son fathering a child with her niece, Steyn said that the family had disapproved.
“The family constantly told them it was wrong, not only because they were blood but because they fought all the time. We can just thank God that the baby came out normal and healthy.”
Now Steyn has an additional problem to worry about – she fears her son may commit suicide.
“I know what my son has done is terrible and completely unacceptable. I’m concerned that he may try to hang himself. I am his mother after all. It is my worry,” said Steyn. - Sunday Tribune
Raped and brutally murdered for R1 500 that was needed to pay off a cellphone debt. That’s why Newlands East mother Freda Travira was callously killed by her sister’s son, Waleed Karriem last week.
Now his mother fears he may take his own life.
Karriem pleaded guilty in the Durban High Court this week to the murder and was given two life sentences. Out on bail when he committed the murder, Karriem gave graphic details in his plea of how he killed his aunt.
He said he had attacked her from behind, putting his arm around her neck and strangling her.
“I took her head and banged it against the wall and floor and stamped on her back. I went to the bathroom, took a bowl and filled it with water. I picked up her head and put the bowl under her face,” he said.
He then sodomised and raped her, only then realising Travira had died.
“After having sexual intercourse with her, that’s when I realised she was dead,” he said.
And he did this simply to pay off a R1 500 debt he had rung up in cellphone accounts.
Karriem was going out with Travira’s 19-year-old daughter Astrid – his first cousin – and both had plotted to have her killed in order to benefit from her insurance.
Yesterday a distraught Gail Steyn, Karriem’s mother, told of how she had been left to pick up the pieces of this heinous crime that has torn her family apart. She also has to take care of her 18-month-old grandchild – Karriem and Astrid’s child.
Initially reluctant to talk, Steyn opened up after a second call from Karriem from prison made her angry. He was calling to ask her to give him more cellphone airtime.
Speaking at her home in Newlands East, with the soothing lilt of gospel music in the background, Steyn lamented the loss of her sister.
“Freda was harmless. She was the most harmless person I know. She was willing to be second best just to avoid conflict. This whole thing is so terrible.
“As a family we are constantly going through trying times. It has been one fire after the other. I hope through the grace of God that we can actually get through all this.
“Their bills were only about R1 500 for the cellphones they owned. Just R1 500. Now look at the damage their actions have caused,” she said.
Karriem, out on early parole for a previous rape conviction and still to face rape charges relating to two separate incidents, lived with Travira and Astrid.
“It’s three losses for me, my sister is gone, my son and niece are in jail,” the mother said.
“My family (her brother and another sister) have been very supportive. We realise that we need to pull together at this difficult time.
“But I’ve been getting accusing looks from some people in the community.
“I know they are whispering about this whole messy episode,” she commented.
Steyn’s phone rang persistently as we talked and eventually she headed off to take the call.
“…this is a very terrible thing that happened, it’s too stressful for me, I’ve got reporters at the door… I’ll see what I can do,” the woman was heard saying to the caller.
Coming back, she said: “It’s Waleed… he wants airtime. This is the second call he has made. Astrid also called yesterday, she wants me to get her toiletries,” Steyn said.
When quizzed about her son fathering a child with her niece, Steyn said that the family had disapproved.
“The family constantly told them it was wrong, not only because they were blood but because they fought all the time. We can just thank God that the baby came out normal and healthy.”
Now Steyn has an additional problem to worry about – she fears her son may commit suicide.
“I know what my son has done is terrible and completely unacceptable. I’m concerned that he may try to hang himself. I am his mother after all. It is my worry,” said Steyn. - Sunday Tribune
