Maarohanye, Tshabalala lied: State

111011. Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala during the murder trial at Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto . Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

111011. Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala during the murder trial at Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto . Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Published Jul 13, 2012

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 Molemo “Jub-Jub” Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala lied about a crash that killed four pupils in 2010, the Protea Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.

“Accused number one (Maarohanye) blamed accused number two, supported by his witnesses which are biased and have an interest in the matter,” prosecutor Raymond Mathenjwa said.

“Accused number two (Tshabalala) also blamed accused number one, supported by individual statements.”

The two face charges of murder, attempted murder, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

They were allegedly racing their Mini Coopers when they crashed into a group of school children in Mdlalose Street, Protea North, on March 8, 2010.

Four boys were killed and two others seriously injured.

Mathenjwa accused Maarohanye of misleading the court when he denied in his testimony that marks found on Tshabalala's blue car were from his car when they collided.

“The accused blatantly denied that the marks were his. It would be unfair to let this fly in the face of justice, your honour.”

He said experts had disputed Maarohanye's claims and had told the court that investigators had found his car had made contact with Tshabalala's.

Mathenjwa said both accused could be blamed for the accident and subsequent deaths of the four pupils.

“The State says they acted in common purpose as shown in evidence submitted.”

He said the court could in anycase use physical evidence to prove that both Maarohanye and Tshabalala were to blame for the collision.

He referred to video footage and photographs used through the trial to show precisely what had happened.

Closing arguments continue. – Sapa

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