Man convicted of murder after setting girlfriend on fire on Women’s Day

A man who doused his girlfriend with bioethanol fuel and set her ablaze on Women's Day in 2017, leading to her death three days later, has been found guilty of murder.

Darren Leslie Kershaw is awaiting sentencing after the high court in Cape Town convicted him of murdering Yeshnee Kuni.

Handing down the ruling, acting judge Masudah Pangarker described events leading to Kuni’s death as “horrific”.

The 195-page judgment delves into the moments leading up to her death and their “tempestuous relationship”. The incident happened at Burgundy Estate in a home owned by Kuni’s employer. Kershaw and Kuni lived together.

“Ms Kuni died of multiple thermal injuries and the consequences of smoke inhalation. At the time of her death she was 33 years old. The only other person present at the residence on the day was the accused, Darren Leslie Kershaw, who it is common cause was her partner and boyfriend at the time,” the judgment reads.

Kershaw “unlawfully and intentionally murdered Kuni by dousing her with a flammable substance and setting her alight”. He was also charged with setting fire to the property owned by Kuni’s employer, Silkuni Importers and Distributors.

“[Kuni] and [Kershaw] had a tempestuous relationship, and the accused had moved out of the house, but moved back shortly before the incident, as described in the charges,” the judgment reads. 

“During the late afternoon on August 9 2017, [Kershaw] doused [Kuni] with bioethanol fuel while she was sitting in an armchair in the lounge and set her alight. The bioethanol fuel came from a plastic container used for a burner in the lounge. The armchair in which [Kuni] was sitting also caught alight, as did items in the lounge. [Kuni] fled towards the main en suite bedroom.” 

Kuni’s neighbours saw plumes of smoke and alerted emergency services and the police.   

“[Kuni] shouted for help from inside the house. When she and [Kershaw] emerged from the house, she was still shouting for help for herself and for her dog,” the judgment reads.

Kuni was admitted to hospital and died on August 12.    

“A subsequent postmortem investigation determined the cause of her death was commensurate with burns and inhalation injuries,” the judgment reads.   

The court heard the testimony of 28 witnesses, including forensic experts, and pored over several exhibits. Kershaw brought an application for discharge, which the court dismissed.

Pangarker last week found Kershaw guilty of murder and arson.

“What [Kershaw] used to set fire to [Kuni] only [he] would know. I cannot speculate. From the charge, and as I have already stated, the state alleged [he] set the deceased alight by dousing her with a flammable substance, and that he did so unlawfully and intentionally.

“Ultimately I need not make a finding or come to a conclusion as to the mechanism of the ignition he used to do so.”

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