Palapye drinking buddies guilty of murder
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday March 7, 2023 06:00
The accused murdered Bafitlhile following a misunderstanding in a cab after a night out drinking at Oxygen Night Club in Palapye.
Ithuteng has several previous convictions ranging from murder, motor vehicle theft, and breaking and stealing from a dwelling house, while Montshwari has two prior convictions of rape. Justice Bengbame Sechele had previously ruled that there were exceptional extenuating circumstances that diminished the accused persons’ culpability when they committed the offence.
Montshwari’s attorney, Thobo Dithobolo pleaded with the court to be lenient with the accused when passing his sentence because he committed the offence under the influence of alcohol and was of a rustic background. “The accused committed the offence whilst under the influence of alcohol which had a great bearing on his mind.
The accused is of rustic background and lived an unsophisticated life,” Dithobolo said. Ithuteng’s attorney, Tshedukani Elijah also pleaded with the court to be lenient with the accused when passing a sentence because he committed the offence after drinking too much alcohol.
Like Dithobolo, Elijah also said that the murder was not pre-planned but happened after the duo had a misunderstanding in a taxi, leading them to stab the deceased with an Okapi knife multiple times. The accused are due in court on March 14 for their sentencing.