About Entertainment – Magazine – Ethiopian star jailed over death

About Entertainment – Magazine –

Afro’s music has been an anthem for anti-government protests

Ethiopian pop star Teddy Afro has been sentenced to six years in jail for the manslaughter of a homeless man.

The singer was found guilty of running the man down in his car and driving away without reporting the incident in Addis Ababa in 2006.

Ethiopia’s best-known pop star was also convicted of driving without a licence.

His music became an anthem for opposition protests in 2005 and many fans believe the charges were politically motivated.

But the Ethiopian authorities have denied this. As he passed sentence, the judge said the prosecution was not in any way a vendetta.

There had been some confusion about which night the homeless man had died.

On the first date the singer – whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun – had an alibi: He was out of the country.

On the second possible date, Teddy said he had been out with friends. But the judge was not convinced and found him guilty on all charges.

As he was led away from the courtroom by police, Teddy said: “I feel free.”