Zahir Bobat murder accused acquitted in Durban High Court
Three young Phoenix men accused of murdering their friend, Zahir Bobat have been acquitted of all charges at the Durban High Court.
Bobat’s body was found hanging from a tree in a park in Phoenix, north of the city in March 2016.
It was believed at the time that he had committed suicide.
However, an independent investigation by Bobat's father, who refused to believe that his son had committed suicide, implicated his three friends who were subsequently arrested.
20-year-old Shalen Naidu, 24-year-old John Naidoo and 27-year-old Brenton Moodley smiled and hugged each other when Judge Mokgere Masipa read out her verdict, finding them not guilty of Bobat's death.
Bobat's family watched on in disbelief as Masipa read out her ruling.
She said the key witness in the trial was the reason behind her decision.
The judge found that the fourth suspect, who had turned State witness, had given such poor evidence that a reasonable judge could not consider it.
It was believed at the time that he had committed suicide.
However, an independent investigation by Bobat's father, who refused to believe that his son had committed suicide, implicated his three friends who were subsequently arrested.
Today, all three appeared in Court B.
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20-year-old Shalen Naidu, 24-year-old John Naidoo and 27-year-old Brenton Moodley smiled and hugged each other when Judge Mokgere Masipa read out her verdict, finding them not guilty of Bobat's death.
Bobat's family watched on in disbelief as Masipa read out her ruling.
She said the key witness in the trial was the reason behind her decision.
The judge found that the fourth suspect, who had turned State witness, had given such poor evidence that a reasonable judge could not consider it.
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It argued further that they tied Bobat's hands with a rope and assaulted him before making his death look like an apparent suicide.