Kopong murder suspects further remanded
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 22, 2022 06:00
The quartet includes Oageng Moagi Letsholo (46), Leufty Gaolemogwe Kosie (47), Outlwile Aston (48) and Kebaleboge Ntsebe (42) who is a traditional doctor. The four, who are facing a single count of murder, appeared before Broadhurst Magistrate, Jobbie Moilatshimo on Thursday.
State prosecutor, Keletso Ookeditse pleaded with court to further remand the suspects, as investigations on the matter are ongoing.
She further stated that the accused persons are facing a serious offence of murder. As a result, the prosecutor argued there is a need for police officers investigating the matter to be given enough time in order for justice to be served.
Ookeditse stated that the police are still struggling to record statements from the deceased’s two children who are their key witnesses.
She further revealed that the police are currently trying to record the minors’ statements and it takes time because the children are also receiving psychological support.
“We have not yet interviewed all of our witnesses hence we are pleading with the court to further remand all of the accused persons so that police could conclude their investigations.”
In a previous appearance, Ookeditse warned that the suspects have committed a sensitive offence. She added the matter was also still fresh in the society’s memory and the deceased’s family hence prosecution feared for the suspects’ safety.
When asked by the magistrate if they had anything to say, Ntsebe, a traditional doctor just like in their last court appearance insisted that she is not in any way implicated in the matter. She, hence, pleaded with the court to release her on bail.
Ntsebe further revealed to the court that she has a 12-year-old daughter who was recently raped and needs her support.
“My daughter is also a State witness in this matter. There is nothing I can do because I am the one who also allowed her to cooperate with the police and help them with whatever information they needed,” Ntsebe told the court.
The other accused persons, for their part, said they did not have anything to say to the court.
In the end as requested by the State, Magistrate Moilatshimo further remanded the quartet in custody. She indicated that she was considering the gravity of the offence and hence was allowing the police to complete their investigations.
“You are therefore, further remanded in custody until September 1, 2022 to allow the State to complete their investigations,” Moilatshimo said.
It is alleged that on July 14, 2022 at Magampane ward in Kopong acting together the quartet murdered Barulaganye.
It is alleged that after killing Barulaganye the suspects are said to have used the victim’s blood to scribe a message that read “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.