The victim’s body was found in a shallow grave several days after she was reported missing.

Self-employed contractor, Sanjoth Madhan (28) and his parents, Manoj (58) and Sarikha (47) have been charged with the murder of Mercisha Tedpaul.

Mercisha is Madhan’s sister-in-law. Her body was discovered in a shallow grave near a railway line in the Dundee area, four days after she was reported missing on March 1.

Madhan and his father are also charged with defeating the ends of justice, while Madhan and his mother have had robbery with aggravating circumstances added to the charges of murder.

The trio appeared in court on March 22 for a bail application, which resumed today.

During his court appearance, Madhan admitted that he lied to the police about why his clothing and shoes were wet and muddy on the day Mercisha went missing.

State Prosecutor, Mphakamiseni Mdlalose will attempt to prove that the explanation Madhan gave to the Dundee Magistrate’s Court was yet another ‘bald-faced lie’.

“All that you are telling this court, you are fabricating,” said Mdlalose to Madhan. “You are trying by all means to deceive this court.”

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