Traditional doctor distances herself from murder
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 8, 2022 06:00
Appearing before Magistrate Jobbie Moilatshimo, Kebaleboge Ntsebe (42), a traditional doctor implicated in the murder of Barulaganye Aston when asked if she had anything to say, told the court that she is not in anyway implicated in the case hence pleaded for bail.
Ntsebe appeared for mention alongside her co-accused, Oageng Moagi Letsholo (46), Leufty Gaolemogwe Kosie (47) and Outlwile Aston (48), who is the deceased’s husband.
Asked if she had anything to say, the traditional doctor told the court that she was shocked to have been attacked and assaulted by police officers demanding the deceased’s lungs while she did not know anything about the murder.
“I am pleading with Aston to clear my name because I am innocent. I was assaulted by police officers who were demanding the deceased’s lungs. Ke kopa Aston a nkgolole ka gore gake itse sepe ka polao ya motho, ke ketikilwe ke mapodisi bare ba batla lekgwaho la motho (I plead with Aston to set me free because I have no idea of who killed the deceased.
I was abused by the police demanding for the whereabouts of the deceased’s lungs),” Ntsebe said.
Ntsebe further told the court that she only got to know Aston as he came for consultation about his life and nothing to do with the alleged murder.
Furthermore, Ntsebe said she has a daughter who is doing Standard 7. She said the daughter was recently raped and needs her support.
For their part, Kosie and Outlwile also pleaded with court to grant them bail even though they did not state reasons for their requests. Asked if he had anything to say, Letsholo who has since been identified as the ‘hit man’ in the matter said he did not have anything to say.
Updating court on progress of the case, State prosecutor, Keletso Ookeditse made an application for remand warrant of the accused persons to be extended because investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
She further stated that the accused persons are facing a serious offence, murder, hence the need for police officers investigating the matter to be given enough time to investigate the matter in order for justice to be served.
“Moreover, when briefed by the Investigating Officer (IO) in this matter, he told me that a key witness in this matter is still undergoing psychological support and they have not yet recorded his statement. Additionally, in the next mention, the IO will be present to update court on the progress of his investigations,” Ookeditse said.
Magistrate Moilatshimo further remanded the quartet indicating that she was considering the gravity of the offence and that the police had not completed investigations.
“You are therefore, further remanded in custody until August 18th in order to allow the police and the IO to complete investigations,” Moilatshimo said.
It is alleged that on July 14, 2022 at Magampane ward in Kopong village acting together with a common purpose the quartet murdered Barulaganye and after killing her they (the suspects) are said to have used the victim’s blood to write a message that reads “277 Die” on her bedroom wall.
On the fateful night, the deceased was with her six-year-old child who later managed to escape and alerted neighbours about the incident.
The murder incident left the nation reeling in shock as it was alleged that the killer(s) had removed some of the deceased’s body parts.