Khakhu admits his bullet might have killed baby Luke

Lindray Khakhu (22) admitted on 16 March that a bullet from his gun might have shot three-year-old Luke Tibbetts in the head.

Khakhu testified in the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court.

He told the court that he panicked when he saw two gunfire flashes from Keenan Mokwena’s direction.

Mokwena and Khakhu were involved in a brawl which led to shooting, resulting in a stray bullet hitting Luke, who died six days later.

The accused blamed Mokwena for the incident.

State prosecutor Deon van Wyk contended that Khakhu threw the murder weapon into a dam.

Van Wyk accused Khakhu of changing his testimony to match other evidence before the court.

Khakhu said he fired shots on the ground to scare Mokwena before firing at him.

However, the State said this had not been mentioned before, pointing out that even the defence had not questioned other witnesses on this act.

Van Wyk also challenged the 22-year-old on the fact that seven out of 10 bullets hit the target (the car which Mokwena was in).

Khakhu said he did not intend to kill the toddler and he was merely trying to scare Mokwena off.

The accused is facing 18 gun-related charges including the murder of Luke Tibbetts.

Khakhu has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

“I am happy that the trial has moved smoothly and no time has been wasted. Now I am waiting for sentencing on the 27th,” said Luke Tibbetts’s dad Derrick Petersen.

The trial will continue for closing arguments on 27 March before judgment is handed down.