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Trio guilty of Lucky Dube killing | Trio guilty of Lucky Dube killing |
(10 minutes later) | |
A South African court has found three men guilty of shooting dead reggae star Lucky Dube in 2007. | |
Dube's family reportedly clapped as the verdict was read out in the Johannesburg High Court. | Dube's family reportedly clapped as the verdict was read out in the Johannesburg High Court. |
The 43-year-old was killed as the three stole his car in a Johannesburg suburb in a case which shocked the nation. | |
Two of the three had earlier tried to escape custody and appeared in court with bandaged heads after being restrained by the police. | |
Dube's son Thokozani, who witnessed his father's killing, told reporters at court: "What happened to uBaba [Dube] was really traumatic to all of us, but we are happy that his killers have been found guilty. | |
"We know they are being brought to book and we can now have closure." | |
He said he hoped they would get a "proper sentence", reports the Sapa news agency. | He said he hoped they would get a "proper sentence", reports the Sapa news agency. |
Security was increased in court after Sfiso Mhlanga and Mbuti Mabe tried to escape, allegedly using a brick to hit a police officer, who needed hospital treatment. | |
Their co-accused Julius Gxowa was also found guilty of the star's killing. | |
Death penalty | |
South Africa's best-selling reggae artist, Dube recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans during his 25-year career. | |
The court has heard the three men did not know the identity of their alleged victim until they read about it in the newspapers the following day. | |
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. | |
Nearly 19,000 people were murdered last year, according to official statistics. | |
Millions of visitors are expected for next year's football World Cup. |