Hip hop star Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye pleaded not guilty to 10 charges in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Maarohanye and his co-accused Themba Tshabalala face four murder charges following an accident in March this year in which four schoolchildren were killed and two others critically injured.
Their Mini Coopers veered off a road in Soweto in March, allegedly while they were drag racing, and allegedly while they were under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Denials
The two are charged with four counts of murder with alternate charges of culpable homicide, two counts of attempted murder with an alternate charge of reckless or negligent driving, use of drugs — mainly cocaine and morphine — and driving while under the influence of drugs. They are also charged with failure to ascertain the extent of injuries caused by the accident.
Maarohanye’s lawyer Ike Motloung told the court his client denies intending to kill or attempting to kill anyone. He also denies having driven recklessly, taking drugs or participating in drag racing.
The prosecution has called its first witness, a Johannesburg metro police officer who attended to the accident scene on March 8.
The trial continues. – Sapa