A state witness in the Durban High Court has refuted claims by murder accused Ferrel Govender that he acted in self-defence during a confrontation with his girlfriend, Salona Ramrutton/Kisten.

The testimony contradicts Govender’s account of events during an incident on December 22, 2024, which occurred just days before the killing of businessman Shailen Singh in Umhlanga.Prosecutors allege Govender and his brother Darren were involved in Singh’s murder, motivated by an affair between Singh and Ramrutton/Kisten.The witness testified that Govender had assaulted Ramrutton/Kisten, dragged her to the floor, and struck her repeatedly before using a firearm.She also reported seeing bruises on Ramrutton/Kisten during their communications, which she attributed to domestic violence.

The trial continues with new evidence expected, highlighting tensions in the case between the defence’s self-defence claims and the prosecution’s allegations of premeditated murder.

The witness’s account adds complexity to the legal proceedings, as it challenges Govender’s narrative while corroborating aspects of the state’s case.