The trial started this month following several postponements.
The man accused of killing a Badplaas youth has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Solly Nkosi (33) told the Carolina Magistrates Court in Mpumalanga that Thabo Maseko is the one who was carrying the knife that led to his death.
Nkosi said he was busy urinating at the toilet while having drinks at the Disco Tavern in Badplaas when Maseko and friend came and made “nasty comments” about him.
“They made nasty comments about me. They said that I was not circumcised,” Nkosi told the court.
He said what followed next is Maseko came with a group of his friends, carrying a knife and when he attempted to stab him, he blocked the knife and the knife went straight back to Maseko, stabbing and killing him.
But Nkosi’s statement was described as “false” by state witness Sipho Thomo.
Thomo, who was at the Disco Tavern on the night of 7 August 2016, selling cigarettes, told the court that Nkosi had kicked the beers of Maseko and his friends, breaking one of the beers.
“When they asked him to replace it, he laughed at him and told them ‘you’re small boys’,” Thomo said.
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He said later Nkosi came carrying a knife, stabbing Maseko in the neck and killing him.
“The accused was carrying a knife,” Thomo said while in the witness box.
“Maseko was at the Disco door peeping out and the accused came to him and stabbed him in the neck.
“Maseko fell down and there was blood,” added Thomo.
The matter was postponed to 21 June 2017 where the state is expected to call a second witness – Sylvester Nkosi, Maseko’s friend.
Sylvester was with Maseko when Solly allegedly stabbed and killed him.
Solly is out on a R1500 bail.
(edited by MLM)
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