A boy accused of killing the cousin of United States R&B singer Ashanti Douglas in a car accident last month was granted bail at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, a court official said on Thursday.
The 17-year-old minor was remanded into the care of his parents as part of the conditions of bail on Wednesday.
It is alleged that on the night Ashanti was to perform at a concert in Johannesburg, the minor stole his mother’s car, drove under the influence of alcohol and crashed into the car in which her cousin was travelling, killing her.
Quinshae Snead (20) was flung from the BMW in which she was travelling on Hans Strijdom Drive, apparently after being rear-ended by a speeding Toyota Corolla.
Her body was thrown into the oncoming lane where it was hit by another vehicle, said West Rand police spokesperson Solomon Sibiya.
According to the court official, the court is awaiting the results of a blood-alcohol test and sketch details of the accident before proceedings will continue.
Snead had been on her way from the Coca-Cola Dome to a Johannesburg hotel to fetch something for her Grammy-winning cousin — known for such hits as Foolish and Always on Time (with Ja Rule) — before her performance in the Redd’s Divas concert.
The minor will appear on charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving and drunken driving.
The case was postponed to July 6. — Sapa