Flabba court case resumes

The case against the woman accused of killing Flabba resumed on Monday with the late star’s cousin testifying that he had heard the musician and his lover quarreling on the night of his death.

Luyanda Silupa, under questioning from state prosecutor Paul Schutter, told the court he knew the accused, Sindi Manqele, as the musician’s girlfriend.

On Sunday, March 8, Silupa along with the couple and friends went to The Sands in Sandton, where the deceased was supposed to perform at an event that was being hosted by fellow members of the Hip Hop group Skwatta Kamp, Shugga Smax and JR.

The groupings returned home to the hip hop star’s Alexandra residence later that night.

“I heard the deceased walking down the passage then knocking on the window after not getting a response at the door,” Silupa testified. “I then heard the bedroom door unlock, then the deceased went into the bedroom, then I heard an argument starting”.

Silupa said he could not hear what the couple were arguing about, but he heard Habedi telling the accused not to lock him out of his own house.

“Estimating, I’d say the argument went on for about 30 minutes,” he added.

Silupa said he heard Manqele saying no one must tell anyone what to do because she paid her own bills, so Habedi could not tell her what to do.

Silupa then testified that he walked to the bedroom where he saw Habedi bleeding from his chest. “I walked in and he was lying on the floor, facing up,” Silupa said.

“For me, I think he was still alive because I could feel his pulse and I was giving him CPR.”

He said Manqele tried to help him and said: “The accused then joined me to give him CPR while saying: ‘I love you, it was a mistake’”.

State Prosecutor Paul Schutter then called up the next witness, Mpho Motsoari, who is the brother of the late hip hop star.

Motsoari said he only knew of Manqele in 2012, but added that she used to come to South Africa once a year as she resided in Ireland. “She was last here in 2014 and used to come over from time to time,” he told the court.

Habedi used to be married and was separated. He had one child with his wife, Motsoari testified.

Motsoari said he saw Habedi before the couple left for The Sands and again when they returned that same night.

“He looked happy,” he testified.

Motsoari said that the deceased mentioned to the people in the house that he was fighting with his girlfriend and that he had to go sort it out but would come back and tell them about it.

“He went to his room then came back to us and told us that the door to his room was locked,” Motsoari recalled.

Motsoari said the deceased was in a happy mood and smoked a cigarette with them before going back to the door. “He was knocking and saying ‘Baby open up, I’m begging you,’” Motsoari recounted.

The deceased then heard a clicking sound of the door being unlocked and he ran back to the door, Motsoari testified.

“They were shouting at each other, but nothing serious,” he said.

Motsoari said he heard them shouting about bills. Schutter asked Motsoari how the argument ended.

“We heard him saying this bitch just stabbed me,” Motsoari testified.

We heard the accused screaming each of our names and asking us to come help her, Motsoari added.

Motsoari said he saw the deceased lying on the floor helplessly.

“Luyanda and Sindi [the accused] were performing CPR on the deceased,” he said.

The court case was adjourned until Tuesday.