Four of the nine suspects who were on trial for the murder of a
Cape Town lesbian have been found guilty after an epic court
case.
Sicelo Mase, Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba
had their trial postponed over 30 times since the incident in
February 2006, but were finally convicted on Friday.
Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, was stabbed to death in the South African
country after refusing to use a male toilet.
The teen was openly-gay and partly killed because of her sexual
orientation.
The case, which has heightened concerns about "corrective rape"
targeting gay women, has been followed closely by gay activists
throughout the world.
The men - who pleaded not guilty - will be sentenced on 27
October.
Magistrate Raadiyah Wathen acquitted three of the men due to lack
of evidence, although they were present when it occurred.
Last month, two other men from the attack were released for
similar reasons.
Lumkile Sizile, from the Treatment Action Campaign, said the
organisation would call on residents to picket the court calling
for "strong punishment".
The case mirrored a similar crime two years ago, when a man was
sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a lesbian football
player who had been gang-raped and robbed.
