Woman Who Killed Two Old People And Burnt Their Bodies After They Visited Her, Sentenced To Life
Pretoria – Zaheera Boomgaard, 62, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2020 murders of two elderly friends. The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria described the killings as “cold-blooded and premeditated,” with Judge John Holland-Muter emphasizing the calculated nature of her crimes.
The first victim, 72-year-old British national Jamnadas Harkant Nathvani, vanished after visiting Boomgaard’s Albertsville home in March 2020. His charred body was later found in Vereeniging, showing signs of strangulation and blunt force trauma. Investigators linked Boomgaard to the scene through tyre tracks and fraudulent use of the victim’s bank cards.
Just five months later, Boomgaard allegedly killed her church acquaintance, 72-year-old Lynette Mustapha. Her burned remains were discovered near Walkerville, with evidence including a forged will naming Boomgaard as beneficiary and practice sheets of Mustapha’s signature found in her possession.
During the trial, Boomgaard pleaded not guilty to the murders but admitted to related fraud and theft charges. Psychiatrists confirmed she was mentally fit, despite claims of hearing voices. The court also handed down additional sentences for robbery, theft, and forgery, running concurrently with her life terms.
Families of the victims expressed relief at the verdict, though they noted it could never undo their loss. The case has highlighted risks in trusting online connections and interactions among vulnerable individuals. Further photos, updates, and in-depth analysis are available on SouthReport.
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