Judge loses drunk-driving appeal

Judge Nkola Motata has lost his appeal against a drunken-driving conviction in the High Court in Johannesburg, the Star reported on Tuesday.

Two judges dismissed the appeal against his conviction and sentence, which is either a R20 000 fine or 12 months in jail.

He crashed his car into the perimeter wall of a house in Hurlingham, north of Johannesburg, in 2007. The owner, Richard Baird, testified against him.

Motata would not say if he would take the case to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Motata previously admitted to drinking on the night of his car accident, the Star reported

“I was at a restaurant in Randburg together with one of my colleagues, where we had dinner.

I arrived at the said restaurant at 7pm. Whilst we were having our meals, we consumed a bottle of wine where each of us consumed two glasses,” said the judge, adding that he had a cup of coffee before driving home. - Sapa