‘I don’t want to lose my father’, teen tells trial of Phoenix man accused of killing family
The daughter of a Durban man accused of setting fire to his Phoenix home says she does not want to lose her father.
Kista Chetty's wife, three of their children and his nephew died in the blaze in 2021.
He's pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder charges.
The Durban High Court heard that he started the fire hours after an argument with his wife, Elisha and an altercation with his brother-in-law.
Chetty's daughter was emotional and wept throughout the proceedings on Wednesday.
The teen said that since the fire, life has not been easy for her.
She pleaded for Chetty to come home, saying that after losing her mother, she didn't want to lose her father too.
During her testimony, the 17-year-old acknowledged that her parents were arguing on the day of the incident.
She says it was because her father was unhappy that her mother's brother had been living with them.
In his plea statement, Chetty claims he tried to take his own life after returning home and finding his brother-in-law still living there.
He says he poured petrol on himself and set it alight before ripping his burning shirt off.
He says the shirt landed on the petrol canister, which exploded in the bedroom.
A fire expert who took the stand yesterday has disputed Chetty's version of events, calling them highly unlikely.
The trial continues on Thursday.
