Young relative of Phoenix man on trial for family's murder backs his account
A relative of a Durban man accused of setting fire to his Phoenix home, killing his wife and children has taken the stand to back up his version of events.
Kista Chetty has pleaded not guilty to the premeditated murder.
The defence called a minor witness who claims to have been in the room when the fire started on the night in November 2021.
The child, who cannot be named due to her age, testified that she followed Chetty into the bedroom where the fire started.
On Wednesday, she told the Durban High Court that Chetty entered the room and after speaking to his wife, threatened to kill himself.
The witness said the accused then picked up a canister of petrol and began flicking a lighter near it.
She said Chetty shirt caught on fire adding she ran out of the room as it started to spread.
State Prosecutor Krishen Shah brought up what he said were several inconsistencies from yesterday's testimony and the young witness's statement to police weeks ago.
The minor said in the police statement that she ran out of the room when she saw Chetty pick up the lighter.
Shah then put it to her that she could not have been in the room when the fire started - adding she would also have been injured.
Shah suggested that the discrepancies indicate that the child has been fed a story to tell the court.
