Tibbetts murder accused pleads not guilty
JOBURG – Luke Tibbetts’s murder accused appeared in court on 2 March.
The man accused of the murder of three-year old Luke Tibbetts pleaded not guilty appeared at the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on 2 March.
The state is relying on a legal principle of dolus eventualis to prove that, Khakhu knew he could kill someone [Luke Tibbetts], when he allegedly fired over 20 shots into the air.
Luke, who was described by his father Derrick Petersen as a happy child, had been sitting on her mother’s lap when the shooting occurred.
According to State Prosecutor Deon Van Wyk, Khakhu was fighting with co-accused Keenan Mokwena before he fired the shot.
Mokwena walked free after paying a R3 000 fine.
Khakhu is facing 18 criminal charges in total – including charges of attempted murder of Mokwena, murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and pointing a firearm.
He has four other cases pending in the South Gauteng High Court.
He was out on bail when the shooting occurred.
The trial is expected to be concluded by 27 March.
