DJ Donald’s sentencing postponed

480 Former Jozi FM Dj Donald Sebolai speaks to his family at Palmridge court in ekurhuleni where he is appearing for sentencing after he was found guilty for murdering his girlfriend. 100216

480 Former Jozi FM Dj Donald Sebolai speaks to his family at Palmridge court in ekurhuleni where he is appearing for sentencing after he was found guilty for murdering his girlfriend. 100216

Published Feb 11, 2016

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Johannesburg – The Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday postponed the sentencing of former radio presenter Donald “Duck” Sebolai, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Rachel “Dolly” Tshabalala.

The former presenter for Jozi FM, a community radio station in Soweto, was in October found guilty of the murder of Tshabalala, whom he stabbed in the lower abdomen two years ago. Sebolai left his girlfriend to bleed to death in her Soweto flat.

Earlier, the court heard how the DJ had other romantic liaisons with different women before he met Tshabalala.

In mitigation, the former radio presenter has told the court that he was not a “violent person”. A view which the mothers of his two children shared.

Psychologist Siphumelele Mbatha, who had interiewed the women said they both said they had good relationships with Sebolai and that their relationships with him only ended because they lived far apart.

“The mother of the third child couldn’t be reached because the accused didn’t have her details,” Mbatha said.

But, prosecutor Elize Le Roux questioned Sebolai’s character as reported by Mbatha.

Le Roux brought it to Mbatha’s attention that there was evidence that showed that Sebolai had previously assaulted two other women.

There was also evidence that was brought forward by Professor Cooper, who was a psycologist that dealt with Sebolai, in which the accused admitted to beating women.

Sebolai admitted to beating the mother of his first child as well as a woman who he said owed him money. The former radio presenter said he slapped her when she said she couldn’t pay him.

Le Roux said this evidence showed that Sebolai lied to Mbatha. “Yes it shows dishonesty,” agreed Mbatha.

Le Roux also recalled evidence led by deceased’s friend in which she said Tshabalala had come to her residence with a bloody nose after she had an altercation with Sebolai.

The prosecutor said there was a different side to Sebolai, to the one he presented to the public that he was someone who was against women abuse.

Asked by Le Roux what she would say was the first step to rehabilitation, Mbatha said: “Admission of what one has done”.

“Would you say the first step of rehabilitation has been taken?” Le Roux asked. “No it hasn’t,” Mbatha responded.

Before he adjourned sentencing, Judge Moosa put it to the psychologist that Sebolai had admitted that had he taken Tshabalala to hospital soon after the stabbing she might have survived.

Sentencing will resume on 18 February.

African News Agency

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