Daughter and domestic helper allegedly conspired to kill retired father

Chilling details, phone evidence, video footage and a confession emerge in court

- NADIA KHAN

Nicola Tasha Ramsamy

A PHOENIX detective has testified in court how Nicola Tasha Ramsamy allegedly orchestrated her father's murder with the family's domestic helper.

The court heard chilling details of the alleged conspiracy, including phone evidence and a full confession, while the accused maintained their innocence claiming vehicle tracking data proved their alibi.

Arthur Brian Ramsamy, 62, a retired eThekwini Municipality employee, was found strangled in his Lenham home on October 5.

Sergeant Mbali Precious Mgaga, of Phoenix SAPS, was giving evidence during Ramsamy and her co-accused's formal bail application in the Verulam Magistrate's Court last week.

Ramsamy, 36, her partner, Brenden Sanichara, 37 and their co-accused Mzwakhe Solly Mnguni, 38, and Ayabulela Mxoli, 31, were arrested and charged with premeditated murder.

Mgaga, who was the arresting and investigating officer, told the court that Mxoli had worked as a domestic helper in the home that Ramsamy, Sanichara and their three children shared with Arthur.

She said at the beginning of October, Ramsamy told Mxoli that she needed to find someone to kill her father.

Mgaga said Mxoli told Ramsamy that she would use her boyfriend, Mnguni.

"She (Mxoli) told her (Ramsamy) that her problem was that 'Solly' did not have a cellphone.

"Accused three (Ramsamy) then said she would make means to get a cellphone, so they could keep in contact. The cellphone was found and given to accused one (Mnguni)."

Mgaga said on the day of the incident, Ramsamy contacted Mxoli to inform her to go to their house in the evening, to "kill my father".