Death row inmate gets double murder conviction
Correspondent | Tuesday October 17, 2023 06:00
Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo of the Francistown High Court, in convicting the 37-year-old Ntsuape, stated that the court was convinced of his malice and intent to commit the said offences, leaving him with no legal defence whatsoever.
The ruling came after Ntsuape admitted to all the facts presented in court. "Having pleaded guilty to all counts, the court finds you guilty as charged on all six counts," stated the judge.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nyamadzabo gave Ntsuape until December 18 to prepare for his mitigation. The defence was instructed to submit mitigating factors during this period. Following the ruling, the defence team indicated its intention to call witnesses to assist its case, and the judge requested the production of the accused's prior convictions.
The charges against Ntsuape stem from an incident on December 1, 2016, in Gerald, Francistown, where, while being transported to prison from court, Ntsuape wrestled for the steering wheel of a Prisons vehicle, causing it to overturn. This resulted in the deaths of a police officer and one inmate, with four others injured.
"On December 1, 2016, the accused person caused a Toyota Quantum to overturn and cause an accident. As a result of the vehicle overturning, Thuso Ntosa, a special constable and an inmate Emmanuel Mapholo were killed," read the charge.
Ntsuape faced allegations of planning an escape from custody, complaining about challenges in prison. Currently awaiting a date with the executioner for the first murder, Ntsuape's initial death row offence involved killing Kgotlaetsile on September 13, 2016, at Block 9, Francistown following the breakup of his relationship with his then-girlfriend, Dorcas Kgosietsile. Details of this horrific event included Ntsuape setting two cars on fire, pouring petrol on his ex-girlfriend's family members, and leaving the house in flames.
Tragic events unfold with Ntsuape boarding a bus from Ramotswa to Francistown. When he arrived he went straight to Engen Filling Station and lied to the petrol attendant that he ran out of fuel which the petrol attendant believed his story.
He was then alleged to have taken the five litres of petrol and boarded a cab to Block 9 where his then-girlfriend and her family were staying.
“When he got there, he found the family sleeping and did not knock but decided to jump into the yard and stayed there for about 30- 40 minutes,” read court papers.
He is said to have later called out for his former girlfriend to check which room she was sleeping in after setting two cars on fire.
The ex-girlfriend, believing Ntsuape was in the yard, called her mother in the main house and when they woke up they found the two cars up in flames while he approached the deceased person (ex-girlfriend's mother) and poured petrol on her.
The evidence before the court indicated that he also poured petrol on the former girlfriend's father and set them on fire alive and the house also caught fire while others were trapped inside and were only rescued by the intervention of the neighbours.
Ntsuape then calmly boarded a lift back to Ramotswa, like nothing had happened.
Subsequently, Justice Lot Moroka of the Francistown High Court sentenced him to death after being found guilty of eight counts, including murder, arson, five attempted murders, and malicious damage to property. This revealed Ntsuape's violent tendencies, as he had a history of aggressive behaviour towards family members, including an attempt to burn down the house in 2009 and burning his employer's vehicle in 2016 after being dismissed from work. Other previous convictions were on traffic violations and common assault.