Cape Town - Concert promoter David Forbes will now have to stand trial for the murder of Toufiq Joseph.
This after the 48-year-old’s guilty plea for a lesser charge of culpable homicide was rejected by the Cape Town Regional Court last week Thursday.
Forbes’ lawyers had made written submissions to the Director of Public Prosecution for a possible plea and sentencing agreement.
But provincial National Prosecuting Authority spokesman, Eric Ntabazalila, says they have enough proof to charge him with murder.
Ntabazalila says: “The plea was rejected because the accused wanted to plead on culpable homicide as he claimed to have acted under putative self defence.
“We are of the view that the available evidence is enough for a murder charge.”
Forbes, known in the club industry as Big Daddy, has admitted to shooting 23-year-old Toufiq dead at an Engen garage on Oranje Street in January this year.
Witnesses told police they saw the accused open the car in which Toufiq was sitting, firing three shots inside.
He then allegedly shouted for bystanders to call the cops.
Cops found four knives, one of which was covered in blood, in Toufiq’s car.
Forbes, who owns H20 Parties, claims he acted in self defence after he was threatened by the deceased.
Police are also investigating claims that Toufiq was involved in a ticketing scam for a concert that Forbes was organizing.
Forbes, who is out on R20 000 bail, is due back in court on February 9, 2016 after the matter was postponed for further investigations.
Daily Voice
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