Flabba Murder Trial: His cousin takes to the stand

Johannesburg - The murder trial of late hip hop star Nkululeko 'Flabba' Habedi got underway at the Randburg High Court on Monday morning. 

The first state witness to take the stand was Flabba's cousin Luyanda Sulupha, who testified about the events, which led up to the hip hop star's death on 9 March. 

Luyanda told the court that he was in the home, he shared with Flabba and his family, on the night his cousin died.

Luyanda told the court that Flabba came home around 1am on the morning of his death. He explained that he heard a person, he thought was murder-accused Sindi Manqele, rushing into the house and slamming Flabba's bedroom door. 

Flabba apparently followed her into the house and knocked on the locked door and bedroom window. Once he gained entry an argument ensued and lasted for about 30 minutes, before Sindi rushed out of the room screaming for help.

"She was screaming and crying for help, and I thought the deceased (Flabba) was hitting her," Luyanda told the court. 

He went on to add how he walked into the bedroom, and saw the deceased (Flabba) lying on the floor.

Luyanda explained how he started giving Flabba CPR, and how the accused (Sindi) tried to help him. 

He described how the accused (Sindi) was on her knees over his (Flabba's) body crying: "I love you. I didn't mean it. It was a mistake"

The court heard how Luyanda and Flabba's brother, Tshepang, rushed into the room to find a bleeding Flabba, apparently still alive but bleeding from a stab wound to the chest.

An ambulance was called, because Tshepang did not want to hurt Flabba further, but the ambulance took over an hour to arrive at the house.

Paramedics pronounced Flabba dead upon arrival.

Luyanda was visibly shaken throughout his testimony, and broke down at one point.

The case continues.