/ 4 February 2009

Judge admonishes lawyer in Dube case

A lawyer for one of the men accused of murdering Lucky Dube was on Wednesday admonished in court for insulting the integrity of a state witness.

A lawyer for one of the three men accused of murdering reggae star Lucky Dube was on Wednesday admonished in the Johannesburg High Court for insulting the integrity of a state witness and wasting the court’s time.

Judge Seun Moshidi reprimanded defence advocate Vuyo Jack for putting ”vague” questions to Mpho Maruping, who on Tuesday gave a detailed account of Dube’s murder in her testimony.

Jack spent about two hours tediously cross-examining Maruping, focusing on how certain facts she mentioned to the police in her statement were absent from her testimony. State prosecutor Lethabo Mashiane objected to his questions three times, arguing that Maruping could not be expected to remember details of every conversation that she had since the incident. He pointed out that Jack had not found any contradictions in her testimony.

Moshidi lost his patience with Vuyo, saying: ”Don’t waste our time with the technicalities.”

The defence advocate further aggravated the judge when he, without proof, accused Maruping of being ”coached and advised on what to say” in her statement. Moshidi demanded Jack specify who coached her, saying that his insinuation was an insult to the witness, the prosecution and the police.

Jack withdrew his statement and apologised to Moshidi. However, the judge would not relent.

”I am not letting this matter rest. I will take it up after the trial because it is a very serious and unfair allegation,” Moshidi said.

Jack is representing accused Sifiso Mhlanga (32).

Shocking details
Mhlanga, Ludwa Gxowa (30) and Mbuti Mabe (29) are on trial for the murder of the reggae musician on October 18 2007.

Maruping testified on Tuesday that her husband, Thabo Maruping — who was also arrested but released due to insufficient evidence — confessed his involvement in Dube’s hijacking to her and gave her details on how he was killed.

She said that her husband, Mhlanga, Gxowa and Mbuti were looking for a Chrysler to hijack on October 18 2007.

Dube was dropping off his son and daughter at his brother’s home on the night of October 18 2007 in Rosettenville when the men — excluding Thabo Maruping — attacked him and fired two bullets. The musician tried to drive off but crashed his car into a tree and died on the scene.

Maruping also said the alleged killers did not recognise Dube and thought he was a Nigerian.

Mhlanga, Gxowa and Mabe have pleaded not guilty to six charges, including robbery, murder, attempted robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

The trial continues on Thursday.