Man accused of Burkal Drive Anjela Chetty murder postponed

Sashin Vishay Kumardew, 33, was due to stand trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of murdering Anjela Chetty, 60, described by family as a "dedicated and loving mother," and attempting to murder his aunt.

The charges relate to an incident at a property in Burkal Drive, Andover, on March 8, 2025.

Mrs Chetty was found dead at the address after police received reports of a serious assault. A second woman, also in her 60s, was found with serious injuries and taken to hospital.

Anjela Chetty was described as "a dedicated and loving mother, sister, aunty, friend and (Image: Hampshire Police)

Sashin Kumardew, of Burkal Drive, denies murder and attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty to both charges at Winchester Crown Court in April this year.

However, he pleaded guilty to five drug-related offences.

The trial was due to begin on Tuesday, September 1, but Nicholas Haggen KC, defence, told Judge Angela Morris that the defence could not properly present its case without more time to consider new psychiatric evidence.

He said the defence had received an addendum report from Professor Grubin and a report from consultant psychiatrist Dr Kassen only two working days before the trial was due to begin.

Mr Haggen said the reports raised fundamental questions about Mr Kumardew’s mental state at the time of the alleged offences.

The defence case is that Kumardew was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, which substantially impaired his ability to form a rational judgment or exercise self-control.

However, the Crown’s psychiatric evidence reportedly suggested that any psychosis may have been induced by drugs or alcohol rather than schizophrenia.

Mr Haggen said Mr Kumardew disputed taking drugs or alcohol on the day of the alleged murder.

He told the court: “We are not ready to proceed to trial today.”

The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the new material did not alter the central issue for the jury.

John Price KC said the Crown accepted that Kumardew had an abnormality of mind arising from a recognised medical condition.

However, he argued that it did not matter to the jury whether that condition resulted from schizophrenia or the effects of drugs and alcohol.

The hearing was adjourned while Judge Morris considered the submissions.

She later said she had “reluctantly” accepted the defence application, adding that there had not been enough time for counsel and the court to deal with the issues before the scheduled trial date.

“In fairness to both sides, in the limited time available, there has simply not been an opportunity for counsel and myself to be here in this court in advance of the trial,” she said.

The judge apologised to Mr Kumardew's aunt and the families of those involved for the delay.

She said: “No one, least of all this court, wants delays in trials.”

The trial is now scheduled to begin on April 12, 2027, and is expected to last approximately six weeks.

Legal arguments are due to be heard on March 5, with the custody time limit extended to April 26.

A tribute from Mrs Chetty’s family previously described her as a “dedicated and loving mother, sister, aunty, friend and colleague”.

It said: “She worked hard to support her family. We are shocked and devastated by her loss. There are no words to describe how much she will be missed.”

The statement added: “We now need the time and privacy to grieve together as a family.”

Sashin Kumardew remains in custody at Ravenswood House Medium Secure Unit.