The father of an Auckland man allegedly burned alive for his life savings has spoken of the frantic search for his son on the night of his death.
Shivneel Kumar, 20, and Bryne Permal, 22, are on trial in the High Court at Auckland charged with the murder of 21-year-old Shalvin Prasad.
His father Ravindra Prasad, called as a witness today, said his son did not keep secrets from his family. But on January 30, 2013, the victim withdrew his life savings of $30,050 from a Manukau bank, at the request of Kumar, the Crown said.
Later that night, he was allegedly taken to a rural south Auckland road where he was doused in petrol and set alight.
Crown prosecutor Aaron Perkins said a post mortem had confirmed he was "almost certainly" alive when it happened.
The court heard how Shalvin Prasad had previously taken out a personal bank loan of $7500 to help Kumar start a cleaning business.
Footage shows Shalvin Prasad withdrawing the money at the bank.
Despite Ravindra Prasad's frustration at his son's decision, a few months later the 21-year-old supermarket worker lent the defendant another $800.
Ravindra Prasad told the court he had a tense confrontation with Kumar at his Flat Bush home after he had refused to sign any repayment papers in 2010.
"He said he didn't know anything about the money. Then he shut the door in our face," he said.
The Prasad family eventually sought legal advice and commenced bankruptcy proceedings against the alleged murderer.
On January 30, Shalvin Prasad told his father he would go and play pool with a workmate after a game of football earlier that evening.
But the Crown says instead, he met Permal and Kumar who bought petrol and burned him to death beside a country road.
The victim's final text to his father informed him he was going to be home at 10.30pm but when he was not back at the Botany property by midnight, Ravindra Prasad and his other son went to look for him.
Co-accused Shivneel Kumar (left) and Brynne Permal flank a security guard in Auckland High Court. Photo / pool
They scoured the south of the city looking for any sign of Shalvin Prasad or his Rav 4 vehicle without success.
The next morning a woman walking her dog on McRobbie Rd in Kingseat found the smouldering body of the victim.
Earlier, the jury heard from the teller at Shalvin Prasad's bank who gave him his money only hours before the alleged murder.
Joanne Galvin told him "please be safe", when the victim was adamant he wanted the funds in cash.
Protocol dictated she ask him why he wanted to withdraw the five-figure sum and he explained it was for a "family emergency".
