Murder accused Ferrel Govender claimed self-defence in girlfriend assault matter.
A State witness in the Durban High Court has rejected claims by murder-accused former security boss Ferrel Govender that he acted in self-defence during a confrontation with his girlfriend, Salona Ramrutton/Kisten, insisting that the version put forward by the defence was not what she witnessed.
Govender’s account emerged under cross-examination on Friday as his legal team challenged testimony that he had violently assaulted Ramrutton/Kisten and later fired several shots in her direction during an incident on December 22, 2024.
The alleged attack occurred just one week before Durban businessman Shailen Singh was shot dead in Umhlanga on December 29, 2024. Prosecutors allege Govender and his younger brother, Darren, were responsible for Singh’s murder, claiming it was motivated by an affair between Singh and Ramrutton/Kisten.
Advocate Mike Hellens SC, representing Govender, put it to the witness that during a discussion aimed at reconciling the couple, Govender rejected the proposed mediation, prompting Ramrutton/Kisten to become angry, jump off the couch, and slap him.
