A 23-year-old man has been remanded into custody until July 20 this year, after he appeared in court Tuesday charged with the murder of seven year-old primary school student, Adriel Aftab Mohamed.
Mohamed, a student of Zeelugt Primary School, was killed during the deadly attack that occurred at his home during the early hours last Friday. Police said his 71-year-old disabled grandmother has been hospitalised suffering from injuries received during the incident. On Tuesday, Shaeed Mohammed, called ‘Max’, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, charged with his murder. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The matter was adjourned to July 20, 2026, for a report on statements.
Mohammed was arrested on Saturday and Deputy Commissioner and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had disclosed that detectives secured digital evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene at the time of the attack.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Monday found that the child died as a result of an incised wound to the neck. Investigators also observed evidence of both sharp and blunt force injuries on the boy’s body, injuries consistent with the use of a knife.
Police have since recovered a knife from the crime scene, which investigators said the suspect identified as the weapon used to kill the child and injure his great-grandmother.