Ethiopian Review

The Appeal Court of Cassation at the Federal Supreme Court postponed the final verdict on singer Tewodross Kasahun, better known as Teddy Afro, for the fourth time last Thursday after it said it had not completed the evaluation of the case.

Teddy has already served almost 14 months in jail after he was convicted of killing homeless man Degue Yibeltal in a car accident.

The Federal High Court 8th Criminal Bench sentenced him to six years in prison and fined him 18,000 birr in December last year. However, two months ago the Federal Supreme Court cut the original sentence to two years and the fine to 11,000 birr after Teddy’s lawyers appealed. Following that decision, both lawyers made appeals to the Court of Cassation, arguing that the sentence had been either reduced too much, or too little.

Two weeks ago, the court adjourned the case until this week after it heard the two sides of the dispute. Six weeks ago the court adjourned the case until June 11, but on that day the judge again delayed the final verdict until June 18 so that Teddy could attend the trial.

If probation is granted, the singer should be released in August this year. However, the length of his imprisonment is dependent on the final verdict in two weeks’ time.

Teddy Afro entered the Ethiopian music scene in 2001, and has made three albums since and a number of singles. He became popular due to his varied style and his powerful lyrics.

His die-hard fans still refuse to accept he could be guilty, continuing to maintain that he is the victim of a political vendetta because his music was identified with the opposition’s cause at the time of the controversial 2005 General Election.

- By Muluken Yewondwossen | Capital Ethiopia