Drama as murder accused 'disowns' attorney
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday May 24, 2022 03:50
The spectacle happened in the defence stage of the murder case against Kavamba before Justice Bashi Moesi.
Kavamba is accused of murdering Phenyego Kanyego on January 29, 2011 in Boro settlement. The accused had through his attorney, Wanano Lumbile admitted all prosecution witnesses save for Kagiso Kamanyama and Ogotseng Kagiso. Kavamba had previously told the court that he did not know Kanyego. He also admitted that (Ogotseng) Kagiso was his girlfriend. He had also given evidence to the effect that he only heard about the death of Kanyego from Kagiso’s niece.
Kavamba told the court that Kagiso’s niece had informed him that Kanyego had attempted to rape his girlfriend, Kagiso. The accused also refuted that he was ever in the company of Kagiso and Kanyego on the day that the latter died, adding that on that day, he (Kavamba) was never seen holding the hoe handle contrary to what the first prosecution witness, Letlhophile Kanyego, had told the court.
The accused also told the court that he did nothing after he heard rumours that Kanyego attempted to rape his girlfriend but awaited the matter to be finalised because it was now being handled by the police who had arrested (Phenyego) Kanyego.
The case, however, took a different twist when Kavamba was cross-examined by Universe Kabecha from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
When Kabecha asked Kavamba if he knew Pono Sedisa, who was one of the state witnesses and whose evidence he (Kavamba) admitted in court through Lumbile, Kavamba said that he did not know Sedisa let alone admitted her evidence.
At that point, Kabecha informed Kavamba that Sedisa had previously told the court that on January 11, 2011, she (Sedisa) and Kavamba led some police officers to the scene of the crime.
In response, Kavamba answered in the affirmative adding that he was also admitting that he led the police on the path that he (Kavamba) chased Kanyego through.
Sedisa had previously told the court that Kavamba had told her (Sedisa) that he hit Kanyego with the hoe handle along the same path whereupon Kanyego fell down.
Sedisa further stated that Kavamba showed the police the piece of log (hoe handle) that he (Kavamba) used to strike Kanyego with.
Kabecha then informed Kavamba that he (Kavamba) was misleading the court because the summary of evidence that Kavamba admitted in court attests to that fact.
“My attorney admitted that witness statement without informing me,” said Kavamba to the bewilderment of the court and his attorney.
Kavamba also denied ever admitting the evidence of Onalethata Thuso.
Thuso had previously told the court that on January 11, 2011, he met Kavamba at a shebeen adding that whilst still at the shebeen, Kanyego arrived at which point Kavamba chased the deceased away.
Kavamba also refuted ever telling Thuso that he attacked Kanyego in the bush and thereupon he (Kavamba) finished him (Kanyego).
“Thuso is not telling the truth. Also, I have never admitted the evidence of any state witnesses including Thuso. If that is the case, it means that the prosecutor and my attorney made those admissions without my consent,” responded Kavamba much to the surprise of the court, prosecution and defence attorney.
Lastly, Kavamba also denied that Thuso overheard him (Kavamba) saying that he tried to 'chop' the deceased’s head with a hoe handle and when he (Thuso) asked Kavamba to clarify what he meant, Kavamba told him that he killed Kanyego.
Kavamba’s bail was extended until August 3.