Vodka bottle at scene of Mhere death
By Nomahlubi Jordaan
A witness in the case against Preshalin Naidoo‚ the man accused of causing the death of Top Billing presenter Simba Mhere‚ told the court that he saw a bottle of Smirnoff vodka being taken from his car.
Naidoo‚ 24‚ is on trial in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court‚ where he is facing charges of culpable homicide.
Mhere and his friend Kady-Shay O’Bryan‚ who was a passenger in the car Mhere was driving‚ died on the scene of the accident on William Nicol Drive in Fourways‚ Johannesburg‚ on January 31‚ 2015.
Thabiso Laka told the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that he saw Naidoo’s parents taking out a bottle of vodka from his car after he crashed into Mhere’s car.
“I saw what looked like a bottle of vodka coming from his car‚” Laka said.
“I approached him and told him that I saw the bottle. He [Naidoo] said it was sealed.”
Laka had also smelt alcohol on Naidoo’s breath as he as and his family yelled at him for causing the accident.
Laka said he was travelling with his mother‚ sister and brother in a Mazda 2 on the day of the accident.
He said he saw a coming “out of nowhere” and crashing into a Mitsubishi‚ which was in front of their car at the robots.
Laka and his family were on their way to Mabopane from church in Randburg.
“The car [Naidoo’s] hit a barrier and crashed into the car in front of us [Mhere’s car].
“It then landed on our bonnet and then on the side of the road‚” Laka said.
Naidoo was driving a white VW Polo GTi‚ Laka said.
He told the court that Naidoo’s parents went to the scene and took his belongings out of his car and loaded them onto theirs.
Naidoo apologised to Laka’s family for the accident on the scene‚ he said.
The trial continues. – Sowetan
