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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Three deny SA reggae icon murder | Three deny SA reggae icon murder |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Three men have denied at the high court in Johannesburg murdering the internationally-acclaimed South African reggae star Lucky Dube. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But police were praised for making quick arrests. |
| Death penalty calls | 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. | 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 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |