Lynn Forbes has spoken publicly about the emotional burden of attending the trial of the seven men accused of killing her son, rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane.
Forbes was at the Durban High Court on Monday as the long-awaited murder trial formally got under way.
She sat alongside Tibz’s father, Sylvester Motsoane, as the court proceedings revisited the events surrounding the deaths of their sons more than three years ago.
‘I Always Felt a Little Bit Guilty’
The courtroom appearance brought back difficult emotions for Forbes, who admitted that she had carried a sense of guilt over Tibz’s death.
“I always felt a little bit guilty that Sylvester lost his son, because my son was supposed to be the one,” she said.
Her comments reflected the belief that AKA was the intended target of the attack and that Tibz was caught up in the shooting.
The two friends were killed outside the now-defunct Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban on 10 February 2023.
Forbes Says Sitting Through Evidence Would Be Torture
Despite wanting justice for her son, Forbes said she does not intend to attend every day of the trial.
She described listening to detailed evidence about the killing as emotionally overwhelming.
“I don’t want to be here to sit and listen and torture myself, ’cos it’s absolute torture,” she said.
Forbes indicated that she would instead keep track of the proceedings without subjecting herself to every detail presented in court.
Family Has Waited More Than Three Years for Trial
The start of the trial represents a major development for the families after years of waiting for the case to reach court.
Forbes thanked the investigators and prosecutors involved in bringing the matter before the Durban High Court.
She also defended the length of time it took to reach trial, arguing that investigators needed sufficient time to build the case against those accused.
For Forbes, however, the eventual outcome cannot change what her family has already lost.
“My son’s gone,” she said.
Kairo Being Protected From the Details
AKA’s daughter, Kairo, is aware that the trial has started, but the family has tried to limit her exposure to the proceedings.
Forbes said Kairo knew she was attending court but that relatives were avoiding detailed discussions about the case because of the emotional impact it could have on her.
The family has therefore sought to protect the young girl while the criminal proceedings unfold.
Seven Accused Face Extensive Charges
Seven men are standing trial over the deaths of AKA and Tibz.
All seven pleaded not guilty when the proceedings began.
The accused face 11 charges in total, including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder and charges relating to firearms.
The State alleges that the accused were involved in a plot to kill AKA.
Those allegations will now be tested through evidence presented during the trial, with all seven accused presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A Long-Awaited Trial Begins
The murders sent shockwaves through South Africa when the two men were shot outside the Durban restaurant in February 2023.
More than three years later, the case has finally reached the trial stage, bringing the families back into the courtroom to hear the evidence.
Forbes has made clear that while she wants the legal process to run its course, she also needs to protect herself from the trauma of repeatedly hearing how her son died.
The trial is expected to continue into November as the State presents its case and the accused fight the charges against them.
