Maskandi artist Phuzekhemisi, real name Zibokwakhe Mnyandu, has pleaded not guilty in an ongoing murder case.
The artist was arraigned at the Durban Regional Court on Wednesday for murder, and handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
While Phuzekhemisi does not explicitly deny having shot the victim, he says it cannot be treated as murder.
“I don’t understand the charges. It’s not like I randomly shot him. We were fighting over a gun,” Phuzekhemisi said.
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According to a witness, one Siyanda Dlamini, Phuzekhemisi had been drinking with the victim Selby Shezi.
“We then went to a nearby liquor store where Phuzekhemisi bought a bottle of J&B and some Heinekens,” he said.
At some point, Selby slammed Phuzekhemisi’s car door angering the artist. A heated argument followed.
“Before I knew it, Phuzekhemisi had a gun in his hand. He was pushing Selby with it and Selby was retaliating.
“Selby was hitting Phuzekhemisi with fists. There was a scuffle. At that point, Selby held Phuzekhemisi by his shirt. I then heard the first gunshot,’’ he said.
“A second and third gunshot went off while they were fighting. The car hit something and came to a stop. I managed to jump out but they were screaming and fighting in the car. When they got out, Phuzekhemisi was bleeding from his forehead and Selby had blood all over his chest and lower part of the body. I also noticed that Selby was now holding the gun,” he said.
Phuzekhemisi and his lawyers have however disputed this recollection of events.
