I didn’t mean to kill her, says DJ Donald

Convicted killer Donald Sebolai pleaded with his victim’s mother to believe that his girlfriend inflicted fatal stab wounds on herself.

Johannesburg - Former community radio presenter Donald “Duck” Sebolai pleaded with the mother of his dead girlfriend Rachel “Dolly” Tshabalala, whom he was found guilty of murdering, to believe his explanation that he was not a violent man and had not intended to kill her.

Giving evidence in mitigation during his sentencing at the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, Sebolai implored the mother of the deceased to ignore the testimony of those who said he had a violent history.

The former Jozi FM DJ stabbed his girlfriend in her lower abdomen at her Soweto flat two years ago. He left her to bleed to death and made off with her car.

Judge Cassim Moosa said Sebolai was still denying that he had stabbed Tshabalala at all.

“Yes I didn't stab her we were fighting for the knife,” said Sebolai.

Moosa asked Sebolai if he was sticking to his version that Tshabalala stabbed herself.

“That is correct,” responded Sebolai.

Between sobs, the former DJ said he wished Tshabalala had survived because her family needed her and he still needed her.

Sebolai said he cleaned up the blood from the floor and went on to attend to other things because he was scared and shocked by the stains.

Sebolai said that he should have saved Tshabalala's life, but he was shocked and scared after seeing that he was also injured.

Moosa gave Sebolai an opportunity to give reasons as to why he shouldn't be given the prescribed minimum sentence for the grave crime he committed, before he adjourned sentencing to February 11.

African News Agency

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