Kamal Reddy is serving a life sentence for killing Pakeeza Yusuf and her daughter, Jojo. Photos / Supplied
Kamal Reddy is serving a life sentence for killing Pakeeza Yusuf and her daughter, Jojo. Photos / Supplied
For nearly eight years Auckland woman Pakeeza Yusuf and her 3-year-old daughter, Juwairiyah “Jojo” Kalim, lay covered by stone and mud on Auckland’s North Shore.
They were murdered as they slept in late 2006 but for many years nobody knew about their grisly fate.
A decade later in 2016,Kamal Gyanendra Reddy was found guilty of their murder by a jury.
A six-month undercover police operation drew a confession from him on October 14, 2014, where he admitted to strangling Yusuf with the cord of an electric iron, and smothering Jojo to cover up his ghastly offending.
Pakeeza Yusuf and her daughter Jojo are believed to have been murdered in December 2006 or January 2007. Photo / Police
The case was shocking and when the inner workings of the police operation to nab the killer were finally revealed, Kiwis were astonished.
Today Herald podcast A Moment In Crime looks back at the murders of Yusuf and Jojo, what their killer did and why - and how he went undetected for so many years before his vile actions were uncovered.
This episode of A Moment In Crime references violence towards a child domestic violence - if you need help, or have concerns about someone else, please scroll down for a list of crisis and support agencies.
A Moment in Crime is a NZ Herald crime podcast, with new episodes out every month.
A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by senior journalist Anna Leask - who has been covering crime and justice for NZME since 2005.
Leask has also reported on most of the major incidents and events in New Zealand during that period including the Christchurch quakes, the Pike River mine disaster, the March 15 terror attack and the White Island eruption.
“Each month I’ll take you inside some of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders and behind the scenes of high-profile trials and events to show you what’s really happening in your backyard,” she said.
The most famous Mr Big undercover operation in NZ led to the 2016 conviction of Kamal Reddy for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Pakeeza Yusuf and her 3-year-old daughter Jojo. Photo / File
“Heroes and villains battle for justice to be done, and it seems no matter how horrifying the story, we always want to know more.”
A Moment In Crime is produced by Leask, iHeartRadio podcast producer Adam Pomana, and NZ Herald podcast production manager Ethan Sills.
Episodes of a Moment In Crime are usually released monthly on nzherald.co.nz, iHeartRadio and all your usual podcast apps.
If there is a case you would like to hear about on A Moment In Crime, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz
And if you love this podcast, you might enjoy some of the others produced by NZME journalists including Chasing Ghosts and The Fifty Year Secret.
If you are worried about a child or have information about about any young person being abused, please contact the police.
Information can be passed on to your local police - https://www.police.govt.nz/contact-us/stations/a2z’ target=’_blank’>click here for a list of stations and contact details - or anonymously through the Crimestoppers reporting line on 0800 555 111.
If you’re worried about a child you are urged to contact Oranga Tamariki immediately on 0508 326 459; or email contact@mvcot.govt.nz.
If the child or young person is in immediate danger, call police on 111.
