By Sharika Regchand
Troubled footballer Mbulelo Mabizela no longer has a charge of drunk driving hanging over his head following his acquittal in the Pietermaritzburg District Court on Monday.
Magistrate Dieter Schultz found that Mabizela's Constitutional rights had not been properly explained to him upon his arrest, which resulted in him having an unfair trial.
His attorney Nasen Naicker had argued that when the former Bafana Bafana captain was arrested, on December 12, last year on Alan Paton (Durban) Road, the arresting officer had not explained his rights to him.
He had not been informed that he had the right not to say anything which may be used against him in a court of law, neither was he informed of his rights not to make any admissions and confessions.
This, argued Naicker, amounted to Mabizela's rights having been violated.
- Read the full story in Wednesday's Dali News