Arguments in mitigation of the sentencing of three men convicted of killing reggae icon Lucky Dube in a botched hijacking were expected to resume in the High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning.

Sifiso Mhlanga, Julius Gxowa and Mbuti Mabe were found guilty of shooting and killing Dube in Rosettenville on 18 October 2007 on Tuesday afternoon.

"The court is satisfied that the State has proven guilt of all the three accused," Judge Seun Moshidi said while handing down judgement.

The three men were also found guilty on charges related to the hijacking of a Mercedes Benz in Jules Street, Johannesburg two days after Dube's murder.

Mabe was also found guilty on an additional charge relating to the hijacking of a green VW Polo used in Dube's botched hijacking.

Mhlanga and Gxowa got a guilty verdict in relation to a charge of possessing an unlicensed firearm, while Mhlanga was found guilty for possessing ammunition.

Tuesday's guilty verdict followed an incident earlier in the day when Mhlanga and Mabe assaulted a police officer with a brick in a bid to escape from custody.

They sustained head injuries in the process and the trial was delayed to allow them time to return from hospital.

Subsequently, Judge Moshidi ordered that security be beefed up in court and that each person entering the courtroom be searched.

When the trial resumed after 11am, a heavily armed contingent of about 15 officers, a handful of correctional services officials and three court orderlies kept watch over the three men.

Before the case was adjourned for Wednesday later in the day, State prosecutor advocate Lethabo Mashiane asked that two of the accused be held at the Johannesburg Central Police Station's high risk security detention centre, rather than at Johannesburg Prison where they had been kept thus far for fear they would try to escape again.

Sapa

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