Jub Jub trial postponed
2011-05-27 20:35
Johannesburg - The trial of murder-accused Molemo "Jub-Jub" Maarohanye and Themba Tshabalala was postponed in the Protea Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Magistrate Brain Nemabidi adjourned the matter until June 21 and 22 and extended the men's bail.
The credibility of a cellphone video of Maarohanye and Tshabalala allegedly racing was questioned in court earlier on Friday.
Defence lawyer Ike Motloung asked the 18-year-old witness who recorded the film whether it was possible to edit a video by adding sounds and changing the speed at which objects moved.
Ntokozo Mahlangu replied that it was possible.
Motloung was cross-examining Mahlangu on how she recorded the video and what she saw before and after the video was recorded.
Witness overwhelmed by celebrity
There was controversy over two copies of the video. One of the videos downloaded by the police had been edited to move in slow motion.
When Mahlangu smiled during the cross-examination, Motloung asked her if she was aware of how serious the matter was.
Mahlangu said she was smiling because she was overwhelmed to see "Jub-Jub".
"If you continue to smile, I'm going to start asking you if you are lying," Motloung told her.
The five second video was viewed in court on Friday morning and showed two Mini Coopers pulling off next to one another.
A grey Mini Cooper, said to be that of Maarohanye, was in the lead on the left hand side with a blue Mini Cooper, said to be that of Tshabalala, on the right.
Multiple charges
Mahlangu, aged 18, testified that when she stopped filming, she saw one of the Mini Coopers swerve into the other lane because there was an oncoming car. Once the car had passed, one of the Mini Coopers moved into the other lane again.
Mahlangu said she stopped recording because she ran out of memory space on her phone.
She said she was standing on the corner of Mdlalose Street with her friends when she saw the two cars.
She told the court she recognised "Jub-Jub" as one of the drivers.
Mahlangu said girls were heard shouting on the video when they spotted "Jub-Jub", whom they regarded as a "celebrity".
Maarohanye and Tshabalala face charges of murder and attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Delays in court
They were allegedly drag-racing when one of their Mini Coopers ploughed into a group of school children on Mdlalose Drive, in Protea North, on March 8 last year.
Four children died in the accident and two others suffered severe injuries, including brain damage.
Court proceedings were halted on Wednesday when State prosecutor Raymond Mathenjwa was unable to open the phone, which had been blocked because it had not been used for six months.
He told the court on Friday that the SA Police Service technical centre had unblocked the phone.
Maarohanye, who wore a black suit and blue silk tie, sat in the dock making notes while Mahlangu was being cross-examined.
Tshabalala sat with his head lowered.
Mahlangu seemed to be irritated during the cross-examination, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
- SAPA
