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PRETORIA, South Africa - A Hummer driver who crashed into three motorcyclists, killing two and causing a third to lose a limb, will be sentenced by the Pretoria North Regional Court on Friday (May 31).
Prosecutor Tanya Carstens has called for a stiff jail term for Zambain Indi Himalindi Chiyabu.
FLED THE SCENE
"An expert testified that when the accident happened, the accused did not have control over the vehicle. He left the scene in contravention of the law and only handed himself in five days after," she told the court last week.
She said road accidents and deaths were rampant in South Africa and the court had to impose a punishment which would serve as a deterrent to other road users.
Chiyabu fled after the accident, in which the Hummer and two of the motorcycles caught fire, in Rachel de Beer road, Pretoria, in October 2010.
Pieter Coetzee, 49, and JP Kruger, 32, died at the scene. Coetzee's son Pieter survived, but had to have a leg amputated.
Chiyabu was found guilty of two counts of culpable homicide in February.
Arguing in mitigation of sentence, Chiyabu's lawyer Makhi Nogaga described the accident as a tragedy, but said he should not be punished for the offences of other drivers who contributed to the rising road death toll.
"The sins of this country must not be inflicted on this young man. He must be punished for his own," he told the court.
We'll bring you the sentence as soon as we have it. Watch Twitter - @Wheels24
Prosecutor Tanya Carstens has called for a stiff jail term for Zambain Indi Himalindi Chiyabu.
FLED THE SCENE
"An expert testified that when the accident happened, the accused did not have control over the vehicle. He left the scene in contravention of the law and only handed himself in five days after," she told the court last week.
She said road accidents and deaths were rampant in South Africa and the court had to impose a punishment which would serve as a deterrent to other road users.
Chiyabu fled after the accident, in which the Hummer and two of the motorcycles caught fire, in Rachel de Beer road, Pretoria, in October 2010.
Pieter Coetzee, 49, and JP Kruger, 32, died at the scene. Coetzee's son Pieter survived, but had to have a leg amputated.
Chiyabu was found guilty of two counts of culpable homicide in February.
Arguing in mitigation of sentence, Chiyabu's lawyer Makhi Nogaga described the accident as a tragedy, but said he should not be punished for the offences of other drivers who contributed to the rising road death toll.
"The sins of this country must not be inflicted on this young man. He must be punished for his own," he told the court.
We'll bring you the sentence as soon as we have it. Watch Twitter - @Wheels24
