The family of a woman who was murdered by her husband seven years ago finally got the closure they needed when he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court yesterday.
But they were not happy with 49-year-old Madhan Maharaj’s sentence for killing Caroline Rajah, saying he should have been jailed for life.
However, because the crime was not premeditated, the life sentence did not apply and the prescribed minimum sentence in this case was 15 years.
Magistrate Riaan de Wet imposed a higher sentence because of the “brutal, savage and malicious injuries” Rajah sustained.
De Wet had read out the findings of her post-mortem results, which shocked the family members present in court.
He said she had nine lacerated wounds, four different abrasions, two fractures and four deep bruises.
After the case, Rajah’s mother, Lakshmi Rajah, fought back tears, saying it was the first time her daughter’s injuries had been revealed.
A cousin, Rena Sundarm, interrupted, saying: “He tortured that body. He broke every part of her body.”
Rajah’s sister, Roslyn, added that the sentence was “a bit lenient, but it is some sort of punishment”. However, she said it was “not going to replace her”.
Maharaj’s family was equally angered by the murder.
His cousin Kishore Sewlal said it was not right to kill, and that Maharaj could have avoided murdering his wife by getting a divorce.
De Wet said there was no evidence that Maharaj had shown any remorse.
“The family and friends of the deceased could not get closure while the accused was living a carefree live,” he said.
