Cop: Jub Jub lawyer interfered with witnesses

Johannesburg - The lawyer for murder-accused musician Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala interfered with witnesses in the case, a policeman said at the Protea Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala face charges of murder, attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

They were allegedly drag-racing when one of their Mini Coopers ploughed into a group of schoolchildren in Mdlalose Street, in Protea North, on March 8 last year.

Four children were killed and two others suffered severe injuries, including brain damage.

Branch commander of the Protea Glen police station, Captain Moses Segapo, said a discussion with two male passengers in the cars that were allegedly drag racing proved that they had spoken to defence lawyer, Ike Motloung, before giving their statements to police.

Segapo said two boys, Tumelo Mokoko and Mpumelelo Vezi, approached him after the accident to make a statement.

"We discussed in general what had happened in the accident and when I asked them a question one of the boys said: 'This is why Ike should have accompanied us'. It was clear that they had spoken to Ike."

Motloung asked Segapo if he had asked the two boys "which Ike?" "I knew they were referring to you... You had already coached them what to say," Segapo said.