Man sentenced to house arrest for ‘accidentally’ killing granddad

'I begged my family for forgiveness, for my negligent and irresponsible behaviour'

- NADIA KHAN

A YOUNG Verulam man, who pleaded guilty to ‘accidentally’ stabbing and killing his grand-father during an altercation, has been sentenced to three years of correctional supervision, which includes house arrest.

Hamza Ally, 27, of Lotusville, was arrested and initially charged with the murder of his grandfather, Goolam Shaib Mohammed, and later his father, Zameer Ally, in January 2024.

However, he pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable homicide in the Verulam Regional Court on Thursday. He pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his father.

In his plea statement, read out by his attorney, Faizel Kara-mally, Ally said he did unlawfully and negligently cause the death of his grandfather by stabbing him with a knife on the body.

He said he was at his home on the night of January 13, 2024, and that it was raining.

Ally said due to the heavy downpour, the storm water overflowed into their home.

He said his father called him to assist with removing the water from inside the house and he complied but he had used a cup for this purpose.

“My father spoke harshly to me and requested I use a plate instead of a cup.”

Ally said he and his father into an unnecessary” argument which then became physical between them.

“We both saw the knife on the kitchen counter and we reached for it simultaneously. My grandfa-ther came between us to separate us. He was accidentally stabbed, whilst I was holding the knife.”

Ally said he had the knife in his hand at all given times, but his actions were not intentional against his grandfather.

“I verily believe I stabbed the deceased accidentally whilst we were separating myself and my father during our scuffle. I had no direct confrontation or animosity towards the deceased and therefore had no reason to attack without cause.”