Johannesburg - The case against the woman accused of killing hip hop star Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi on Monday resumed in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court with his cousin testifying that he heard them quarrelling on the night of his death.
Luyanda Silupa, facing questioning from State prosecutor Paul Schutter, told the court he knew the accused, Sindi Manqele, as the musician’s girlfriend.
On Sunday 8 March, Silupa, along with the couple and friends, went to The Sands in Sandton were the deceased was supposed to perform at an event that was being hosted by fellow members of the hip hop group Skwatta Kamp, Shugga Smax and JR.
After the event, at around one in the morning, Silupa was at Flabba’s home when he heard his car coming into the yard, then someone entering his bedroom and slamming the door.
A few minutes later he heard the deceased knocking on the door saying: “Sindi, Sindi.”
“I heard the deceased walking down the passage then knocking on the window after not getting a response at the door,” he said.
“I then heard the bedroom door unlock, then the deceased went into the bedroom, then I heard an argument starting.”
Silupa said he could not hear what they were arguing about, but he heard the deceased telling the accused not to lock him out of his own house.
“Estimating, I’d say the argument went on for about 30 minutes,” he added.
Silupa said he heard the accused saying no one must tell anyone what to do because she paid her own bills so he could not tell her what to do.
“I also heard the accused mentioning the names of the deceased’s ex girlfriends Mpho and Kea, who I knew.”
The arguing continued for some time and the deceased told the accused that she could leave.
“After five minutes or so I heard the door open and heard something that sounded like a bag being dropped,” he said.
Silupa said that was when he put on his shoes to go and see what was happening. He heard somebody go back into the bedroom and close the door. He knocked on the door.
“While knocking I could hear them exchanging words”.
Silupa walked outside to the relaxation area where he found two people, Mpho and Thapelo, who lived with them.
“Mpho said he didn’t know what was happening but he saw the deceased walk into the house and sang for them, then he said he was going to sort out something with the accused and would come back after.”
Silupa said he was outside for just about 10 minutes.
“I told Mpho that I knocked at the door but didn’t get a response and I was going to go back.”
Silupa said he walked back into the house and the accused ran out Flabba’s bedroom and started screaming and crying when she saw him. “She said Lu help, help, and I thought the deceased was hitting her.”
Silupa said he held the accused, expecting the deceased to come out of the bedroom.
“ I asked her what she needed help with and she said: ‘I stabbed your brother by mistake’.”
“I walked in and he was lying on the floor, facing up,” Silupa said, adding that he saw Habedi was bleeding from the chest.
“I think he was still alive because I could feel his pulse and I was giving him CPR.”
He said the accused tried to help him.
“The accused then joined me to give him CPR while saying: ‘I love you, it was a mistake’.”
Silupa said he asked a housemate, Tshepang, to help him take Flabba to hospital.
“Tshepang woke up and asked me what’s happening and I told him that they stabbed our brother. I said let’s grab our brother and take him to hospital and Tshepang said we should call an ambulance because we might hurt him further.”
Silupa said the ambulance took about an hour to arrive.
When the paramedics arrived they had a look at the deceased and said he was already dead and called the police, Silupa said.
“I was outside and couldn’t see what the accused was doing but was told by Thapelo that (she) was trying to kill herself,” he continued.
Silupa said he couldn’t confirm whether or not the accused was trying to kill herself.
“I only saw blood on her right hand.”
Silupa said he could not see any injuries on her body that may have been sustained during the argument.
“I saw what looked like a bread knife on the foot of the bed, then later I saw it next to the body of the deceased.”
Silupa was then asked to look at a picture and he began weeping.
After his testimony, court was adjourned for 15 minutes.
Manqele arrived at court on Monday accompanied by friends and family. She was dressed in a black jacket and shielded her face with a scarf, as she has done during earlier court appearances.
ANA