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Cynthia Dube, Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO Polytechnic student who allegedly killed his friend after reversing a car and knocking him down at the college premises, has appeared in court.
Jansen Van Vuuren Neville Jillian (19) of Waterford suburb allegedly knocked down Mr Allan Charles Mhlanga (26) in February this year during lunch time.
Julian appeared before magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure facing a charge of culpable homicide.
He pleaded not guilty and Ms Mbeure remanded him out of custody to May 12.
“Your worship, I do not admit to the charge of culpable homicide. The incident was not intentional but was an accident. I was in my vehicle with my two friends and we had agreed to move to the parking next to us where there was shade,” said Julian.
“I checked my mirror before reversing and it was clear, there was nothing behind my vehicle. I proceeded reversing the car but my friends started screaming saying there was someone sitting behind the car. I panicked and applied the foot brake but my foot slipped off the brake onto the accelerator and the vehicle knocked the deceased.”
Prosecuting, Ms Grace Zhou said on February 6 at around 1PM, Mhlanga and his two friends were sitting at a parking bay in the college premises.
“The three were having lunch when they decided to relocate near the accused person`s car which was parked near a tree. The accused person who was reversing his motor vehicle hit the deceased,” said Ms Zhou.
Ms Zhou said Mhlanga bled through the nose and mouth and was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where he later died.
Ms Zhou said the doctor`s report revealed that Mhlanga`s death was caused by road traffic accident, depressed skull fracture and subarachnoid haemorrhage
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Londile Moyo
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