South Africa: Reporter suspended over testimony

The Star has suspended news reporter Alameen Templeton because he testified on behalf of the state in the so-called lion murder trial in Phalaborwa, according to a report in the newspaper. The paper is to investigate his decision to testify. His testimony on Thursday was led in sentencing deliberations during the trial of Mark Scott-Crossley and Simon Mathebula for the murder of Nelson Chisale, who had been thrown into a lion's enclosure and killed. Templeton was immediately pulled off the case because his impartiality had been compromised by his testimony.