Bame Piet
31 October 2007
South African Kwaito Star, Tokollo 'Magesh' Tshabalala finally stepped into the Village Magistrates' Court yesterday after eluding the Botswana Police for six years.
The artiste is facing two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
If found guilty, Tshabalala will be fined not less than P5, 000 for each count or a jail term if he defaults payment.
He is charged with killing Maria Monyatsi and Tumelo Desmond Monaise in March 2001 when the silver BMW car he was driving collided with Monyatsi's car in 'Ledumadumane' in Mogoditshane along Willy Seboni Road.
The BMW car did not have registration numbers. It is further alleged that Tshabalala and his Batswana friends were running away from the police who were giving chase.
Trial dates were set for next February 27, 28 and 29. The state intends to call 15 witnesses. The artiste was warned to make sure that he appears in court on the set dates.
Presiding Chief Magistrate, Lot Moroka explained to Tshabalala that he will be afforded a fair trial and that all people appearing before Botswana courts are treated fairly. "There is no justice for Batswana and another for foreigners," he explained.
Tshabalala arrived to a waiting crowd of reporters from Botswana and South Africa in a black Mercedes Benz bearing local registration numbers. He was driven in the car with his advocate, Billy Gundelfinger dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a khaki jacket. Relatives of deceased persons attended.
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