MICHAEL Padayachee, accused of savagely assaulting Tina Mbili, has been arrested.

A three-week massive manhunt, involving a special task team and members of the Tactical Response Team, ended early yesterday morning after a tip-off from a police informant.

“We received information that he was in Verulam. He was walking on a street in Verulam when he drove up to him. He realised he was trapped so he did not try to flee,” head of the task team Colonel Reuben Govender said.

Padayachee, who is Mbili’s former lover and the father of her 17- month-old daughter, was charged with attempted murder and held in Phoenix Police Station holding cell.

He is expected to appear in court today .

Padayachee had gone into hiding after he allegedly beat Mbili and left her for dead in a Phoenix park.

Last week, he allegedly sent Mbili several text messages threatening to “finish her off”.

Mbili had obtained an interim protection order against Padayachee, and two domestic violence cases in which he is the accused are pending.

When Padayachee had appeared in court in July for assault, intimidation, and crimen injuria — after he allegedly tried to kidnap his daughter — Phoenix police had vehemently opposed bail.

However, he was released.

Mbili’s sister, Ross Harichand let out a sigh of relief when she learnt of Padayachee’s arrest.

“For the first time in a long time we can sleep easily. We have been living in fear for such a long time that it seems almost unreal that this man has been arrested. I really thought he would get away with it,” she said.

Harichand will be in court today but Mbili was not “physically or emotionally well” to come face to face with Padayachee.

“Tina’s injuries have to heal and she cannot go anywhere at the moment. She is also suffering emotionally and has to go for counselling. She will recover but she is not yet ready to go to court,” she said.

According to Mbili’s statement to police last week, she had been living with Padayachee for a week in Phoenix when they had gone to a local tavern after work on the day of the attack.

Their daughter was with Padayachee’s mother at the time.

The assault had taken place as they walked home, she said.

Comments

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Fri May 24 00:57:12 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 11, 2012

Hosh6

Black women and tarverns yerrr...just a question shouldn't the guy be charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm?
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Sep 11, 2012

lindsay

please don't give him any bail, i know its his right but he does not deserve it and while you are at it give him a life sentence
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Sep 11, 2012

malemaforpresident

Tjoooo her pictures that was a real panel beating
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Sep 11, 2012

Papage

This guy need a real beating from man, put him in my cell
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Sep 11, 2012

KGS000

This guy needs to be tortured for days period
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Sep 11, 2012

lindsay

@Hosh6

that would be an alternative charge and more over it depends on what weapon was used for that assault as well as the intention of the doer, he told the child that her mother was dead which is he intended to kill her, moreover if he is not found guilty of attempted murder he can be found guilty of assault GBH as a competent charge.
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Sep 11, 2012

iPhone4

And she is going to drop the charges like Bonang....
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Sep 11, 2012

lindsay

what happened to that version that said she was walking with her daughter in the park when she was attacked, how many version are to this story Editor please don't pull a Malema on us.
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Sep 11, 2012

KGS000

@ iPhone4

I doubt dear
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Sep 11, 2012

Hosh6

lindsay
So because he told the child her mother was dead he intended killing her?What if his intention was to teach the woman a "lesson"?
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