Student beaten and left to die alone

Port Elizabeth – A Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student has died from his injuries after a vicious attack during a house robbery over the weekend.

Asadullah Ajimudin, 19, a second-year computer science and applied mathematics student, was found unconscious and severely beaten, with his body hidden and left for dead in his flatlet in Ben Viljoen Street, Summerstrand, during the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Alwin Lebans confirmed that Ajimudin, who was originally from Kimberley, had died on Tuesday morning, after his family decided to switch off the life support machines when he failed to respond to treatment.

Ajimudin, who was described as a bright youngster who was always peaceful, passive and pleasant, suffered extensive injuries believed to have been the result of a beating with a cricket bat.

He had severe swelling to the brain and never regained consciousness after he was found.

Before his death he was believed to have suffered a stroke which paralysed the left side of his body.

Doctors also told the family that, if he had woken from his coma, the nature of his injuries would have meant he would no longer be able to speak.

Ajimudin was given medication on Monday to try and reduce the swelling on his brain, but did not respond to it.

Lebans said an armed response company had discovered Ajimudin when they responded to a house alarm at 04:00 on Saturday morning.

He said guards became suspicious when they found keys and a remote lying in the back yard of the flatlet.

‘Lying in a pool of blood’

Lebans said it appeared as if the robbers had climbed over the perimeter electric fencing and gained entry to the flatlet by forcing open the sliding door, before attacking Ajimudin with his own cricket bat.

He said the guard had discovered the severely beaten and unconscious Ajimudin, lying in a pool of blood, hidden under a duvet with clothes piled on top of him.

Lebans said it appeared to be an attempt to hide the student who had been left for dead.

He said initial reports indicated that only his laptop and cellphone were taken.

Lebans said police had found the cricket bat covered in blood lying next to the wall.

The university has expressed shock and outrage at the vicious attack.

“We are totally horrified at the savagery and brutality of this crime, and the life threatening injuries Asadullah sustained. [The university] wishes to express our sympathies and solidarity with the family,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Derrick Swartz.

“We cannot begin to imagine the shock and trauma this must have induced on his family,” he said.

“[The university] furthermore calls on the police to make every effort to swiftly track down, arrest and hand over these savages to the courts, and for the law to put them away for good. Such people cannot be allowed to walk on our streets and put citizens at risk,” said Swartz.

Lebans confirmed that a task team had been established to investigate the incident and that, because Ajimudin had died from the injuries he had sustained due to the attack, the case was now a murder investigation.

Derrick Spies, News24