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Three deny SA reggae icon murder | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Three men have denied at the high court in Johannesburg murdering the internationally-acclaimed South African reggae star Lucky Dube. | |
Julius Xowa, Sfiso Mhlanga and Thabiso Maroping also deny unlawful possession of firearms and attempted hijacking. | |
The shooting of the 43-year-old musician outside his brother's house in Johannesburg in October 2007 shocked the country. | |
Lucky Dube's family and friends were in court for the opening of the trial. | Lucky Dube's family and friends were in court for the opening of the trial. |
The accused - all in their early 30s - were denied bail when they appeared in court in November last year. | The accused - all in their early 30s - were denied bail when they appeared in court in November last year. |
It emerged at the time that one of the suspects had been out on bail on a separate charge when he allegedly took part in the murder of the reggae star. | It emerged at the time that one of the suspects had been out on bail on a separate charge when he allegedly took part in the murder of the reggae star. |
This angered opposition parties and members of the public who questioned the country's judicial system. | This angered opposition parties and members of the public who questioned the country's judicial system. |
But police were praised for making quick arrests. | |
Death penalty calls | |
Four suspects were initially taken into custody, but one was later released under the instruction of the directorate of public prosecutions. | Four suspects were initially taken into custody, but one was later released under the instruction of the directorate of public prosecutions. |
Lucky Dube was shot dead in front of his son and daughter in Rosettenville, a southern suburb of downtown Johannesburg. | |
The killing led to renewed domestic calls for the restoration of the death penalty in a bid to stem one of the world's highest murder rates. | |
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says South Africa's international image has been tarnished by its alarming crime levels. | The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says South Africa's international image has been tarnished by its alarming crime levels. |
Nearly 19,000 people were murdered last year, according to official statistics. | Nearly 19,000 people were murdered last year, according to official statistics. |
Millions of visitors are expected for next year's football world cup. | Millions of visitors are expected for next year's football world cup. |
Lucky Dube, who recorded in Zulu, English and Afrikaans, began his career by singing mbaqanga (traditional Zulu) music and recorded his first album with the Super Soul band in 1982. | |
He later moved into reggae, producing Rastas Never Die, which was banned by the apartheid government. | He later moved into reggae, producing Rastas Never Die, which was banned by the apartheid government. |
His albums Slave, Prisoner and Together As One won him global recognition. | |
The trial is expected to last about a month. | The trial is expected to last about a month. |