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Ethiopia’s sensational singer-songwriter and stage
performer Tewodros Kassahun, popularly known as
Teddy Afro, may spend the duration of his trial for
homicide charges in prison if he is denied bail at a
hearing on Monday, April 21, 2008.
Tewodros was formally charged last week on two
counts, with homicide (including driving without
license) and fleeing the scene of a crime. Homicide
would carry up to 15-year prison sentence and hence
make Tewodros eligible for bail. Nevertheless,
prosecutors have added another charge of failure to
help a victim on whom one has caused injury. This
involves an additional penalty of one month to two
years, thus Tewodros could face up to 17 years in
prison if found guilty.
Ethiopian law stipulates that defendants involved in
crimes carrying sentences greater than 15 years
shall not be permitted bail.
Tewodros’ defence lawyer, Million Assefa, however,
argued last week that the bail hearing should be
based on only a single charge, homicide. He appealed
to the judge that Ethiopia’s criminal procedure
protects defendants from double jeopardy. If the
defence is successful, he would be allowed to post
bail for the duration of the trial, which could last
years.
Tewodros was arrested and formally charged on
Wednesday, April 16, at the Federal High Court
eighth criminal bench, Lideta area. After the
Federal High Court adjourned the hearing on his
appeal for bail, the 30-year-old celebrity was
transported in a white minibus from the prison
administration to Kaliti, Addis Abeba’s largest
prison, together with other inmates. Fans, family
members and his agent Addis Gessese, gathered inside
the court before the minibus drove out.
On November 3, 2006, investigators from the Addis
Abeba Police Commission arrested Tewodros, accusing
him of a hit-and-run accident that had caused the
death of 18-year-old Degu Yibelete. Degu, a street
dweller who came from Gojjam to reside with his
uncle before he moved onto the streets, was killed
on the night of November 2, 2006, after he was hit
by a car.
Police received an anonymous phone call from a taxi
driver who allegedly witnessed the incident and
noted the plate number of the vehicle, and the make,
a BMW, according to a senior police official who
told Fortune at the time. Later that night, a BMW
owned and driven by the singer was found collided
with a concrete block amid the road construction
around Gurd Sholla area, on the way to CMC
residential complex. Police claimed at the time that
Tewodros’ plate number matched the number provided
by the unidentified taxi driver.
“I’ve yet to compose my thoughts,” Tewodros told
reporters who showered him series of questions.
“Nevertheless, I have not hit anyone with a car.”
He failed to convince investigators, however.
Prosecutors of the City Police Commission later
declared that Tewodros had hit and killed the street
dweller on November 2, 2006, at approximately
1:10a.m. after midnight, in Arada District, Kebelle
17, on Taitu Road (the sloppy road down to the
Sheraton Addis).
The following day, the Addis Abeba Police Commission
apprehended and questioned the popular singer. After
he was put under custody for a day, Tewodros was
released on a 50,000 Br bail on November 4, 2006.
The victim was buried in Guskuam Mariam Church
around Shero Meda as his parents who came all the
way from Gojjam could not afford to take Degu’s body
to his birth place.
The eight-page charge against him is supported by
four witnesses - all police constables - and five
material evidences.
According to the Ethiopian Penal Code, a driver who
kills a person in a collision and drives 15 meters
away from the scene of an accident would be charged
of homicide.
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