Teddy Afro likely to be free in a month
Teddy Afro's music has been an
anthem for opposition protests
20 July, 2009
Capital - Teddy Afro should be released in a month after an appeal court upheld a decision to reduce his six year sentence to two years. The final verdict on the hit and run charge against the popular singer, whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun, came from the Cassation Bench at Federal Supreme Court.
Last Thursday morning, the court upheld the two year sentence handed down by the Federal Supreme Court in mid February, but the court accepted the 18,000 birr fine that the Eighth Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court gave in December 5, 2008. On appeal, the Supreme Court had previously reduced the fine to 11,000 birr.
Following the decision, the public expressed their happiness at the imminent release of the popular singer. One of Teddy's lawyers, Ameha Bedlu, told Capital the singer was also happy at the decision of the court.
"I am really glad that the court decided to accept the reduction of Teddy's time in prison, because he will be free after four weeks; but I still do not accept he is guilty," one of Teddy's fan told Capital after he heard of the verdict.
Most people from all ages and walks of society that Capital interviewed were delighted with the court's verdict, though many still believe Teddy is innocent. They think he was 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.
The Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court is the final court of appeal, so neither side has any opportunity to make further appeals.
Teddy Afro was jailed on April 16, 2008, for killing a homeless boy in a hit and run incident. The initial guilty verdict was reached almost nine months later and he was sentenced to six years in jail and fined 18,000 birr at the Eighth Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court in December 2008.
Subsequently, Teddy's lawyers, Million Assefa and Ameha Bedlu, appealed to the Supreme Court. The first appeal hearing was adjourned until February 18 for a final verdict.
The appeal judge, Justice Dagne Melaku, sustained the guilty verdict, but reduced the sentence, deciding the deceased had some culpability for the incident that cost him his life.
The Federal Supreme Court cut the original sentence to two years and the 18,000 birr fine to 11,000. The decision was based on the finding that the deceased was unconscious due to alcohol consumption and sleeping in the middle of the road when the accident happened.
Due to a lack of lighting, the court reasoned it would be almost impossible for a driver to spot a person, or anything else, at night.
When the sentence reduction was heard, fans inside the compound went out singing one of the pop icon's famous songs, and were joined by a crowd outside to create an impromptu celebration. The same thing happened last week at the cassation court around Arat Kilo, until city police broke up the celebrations within minutes.
Teddy Afro has already served almost 16 months behind bars at Kaliti Prison,
some 25km out of Addis Ababa. With probable parole for good behaviour he will
be free in less than 26 days on Friday, August, 14.
The parole given is four months per every year in jail, so the singer is set
to receive an eight month reduction.