Johannesburg - Exactly three years after the accident in which Top Billing television presenter Simba Mhere was killed, driver Preshalin Naidoo was on Wednesday found guilty of culpable homicide by the Randburg Magistrate's Court.
Magistrate David Mahango said in handing down judgment that "the court finds that the State has proven the facts beyond reasonable doubt that the accused wrongfully and negligently caused the collision that caused the death of Simba Mhere and Kady-Shay O'Bryan.
The crash involved three cars and happened on January 31, 2015.
Mhere and his friend O'Bryan were travelling on William Nicol Drive in Johannesburg when a car rammed into their vehicle.
Mhere's father, Joseph, who was also a passenger in the vehicle survived.
Top Billing television presenter Simba Mhere Picture: Supplied
During the trial Mhere's father testified that they were in one of two of the turning lanes off ramping on the Southern bypass of the N1 highway before they heard a big bang, which was Naidoo's car smashing into theirs.
The second testimony came from Mamokete Laka who was travelling in the second vehicle that was involved in the collision.
Laka said she heard the noise when the robot was orange.
"It shows the accused was driving at excessive speed."
On Wednesday Mhango found that Naidoo's car, as evidence presented, has been travelling at high speed when the accident happened.
The magistrate said Lawrence Stroger from a car-tracking company had testified that according to their records, Naidoo had been recorded exceeding speed limits numerous times before the fatal crash occurred.
He said evidence stated that the vehicle was travelling at 166km/hour along William Nicol Drive. The speed recorded zero a few seconds later.
The speed limit along the road is 60km/h.
The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the judgment.
Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the State had always maintained that Naidoo "acted negligently and without reasonable consideration for other road users".