'I watched my cousin being shot to death'

Phoenix man testifies about deadly shooting at the drag race

- NADIA KHAN

A PHOENIX man took the stand to recount the horrific night his cousin Wesley Steenkamp was shot dead at a Springfield Park petrol station where they had gone to watch a drag race.

Shaun Sukhlal, 34, described how he was also shot four times during the incident that has left him physically and emotionally scarred.

He was the first State witness to give evidence during the murder and attempted murder trial of Artish Muganlall which started in the Durban Regional Court last week.

Muganlall, 22, also of Phoenix, was arrested and charged for the murder of Steenkamp, 30, and attempted murder of Sukhlal in February last year.

The incident occurred after Sukhlal, Steenkamp and another cousin had gone to watch the drag racing, in Springfield Park, on the evening of February 3.

Steenkamp, a truck driver, who was shot multiple times, including in his chest, died at the scene.

Sukhlal, a sales representative, was shot once in his left arm and once in his groin - where the bullet is still lodged. The other two bullets grazed his abdomen.

Their younger cousin was not injured.

Muganlall was arrested three weeks later after he allegedly went into hiding in the Pietermaritzburg area.

At the time, his mother, Melanie Muganlall, was arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice - aiding and abetting. The charges have since been withdrawn.

At the time she had been accused of hiding her son from authorities.

At the start of trial last Wednesday, Muganlall pleaded not guilty to the charges.