Siam Lee’s alleged murderer, Philani Ntuli, is ‘officially’ dead

Philani Ntuli, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Siam Lee in January 2018, has been confirmed dead by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Ntuli’s death drew suspicion from those close to the case, as officials scrambled to prove that it was in fact the 30-year-old murder-accused that was deceased.

While Ntuli’s lawyer, Reial Mahabeer, announced that his client had died in June, scepticism regarding the authenticity of suspect’s demise was rife – heightened by a dubious-looking death certificate.

Fingerprint tests disprove fake death theory

The State feared that Ntuli may have faked his own death to avoid prosecution and ordered comprehensive fingerprint testing to be conducted on the corpse.

The results were conclusive; Philani Ntuli had died nine days prior. The Department of Home Affairs cleared up the confusion surrounding the dodgy looking death certificate, too, explaining that there was a problem with the printer.

Cheryl Naidu, representing the State, confirmed that Ntuli was deceased. As a result, the case against the Ntuli was struck off the roll. Lee’s mother, Nan, sobbed in the Durban high court when it was announced that the matter would be discontinued.

The distraught mother added that although she found solace in the fact that ‘nature had taken its course’, she said she only wished that Ntuli had met a violent end.

Naidu added that it was a shame that Ntuli had, in his death, avoided justice.

The brutal killing of Siam Lee

Before dying of skin cancer on 21 June, Ntuli stood accused of kidnapping Siam Lee in Durban and driving her to an isolated sugar cane farm in New Hanover. Siam’s burnt body was discovered on 6 January – it’s alleged that Ntuli raped the 20-year-old before dousing her in petrol and setting her alight.

During the trial, it was revealed that Siam Lee was working as a masseuse on Margaret Maytom Avenue. It was further alleged that the premises from which Siam Lee was abducted operated as a brothel.

Ntuli was out on R40 000 bail at the time of his death.