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Jozi road-rage killer's trial date set

ROODEPOORT, Gauteng - A man accused of shooting dead a motorcyclist during a road-rage confrontation has appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on the West Rand.

Magistrate Denise Smith at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, set the trial to run from January 26 to February 13 2015 in the Johannesburg High Court.

Smith extended 43-year-old labour law consultant Meekahefele Masooa's R5000 bail to appear in court at 8am on January 26 and told the accused man to arrange his own witnesses for the trial.

RIDERS IN SUPPORT

Masooa, wearing a black suit and blue tie, appeared in the dock just after 9am. He stood up straight, folded his arms and looked directly ahead, avoiding the public gallery where dead biker Douglas Pearce's family, among them his widow, mother, and brother, were seated.

A group of leather-clad riders was also in the gallery to show support for Pearce's family. Their motorcycles were parked outside the court entrance.

Proceedings were slightly delayed as Smith asked Masooa's lawyer Paula Thekiso, standing in for his usual lawyer Victor Nkwashu, to confirm the accused residential address, contact details, and language preference.

Masooa told the court he would prefer his trial to be in English.

Mosooa allegedly shot Pearce in a road-rage confrontation on Malibongwe Drive, Johannesburg, in February 2014. During the bail application it was heard that both men had a firearm on the day of the shooting.

Masooa claims he acted in self-defence.

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