Insurance killer gets sentence date
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday April 30, 2024 06:00
He appeared before the court for extenuation and mitigation following his guilty conviction in March, exactly six years after the murder.
However, Tsametse would go through his attorney Winnie Masitha and state there were no extenuating circumstances to submit. Masitha further said Tsametse’s substantive attorney, Nkosana Ngwenya had submitted mitigation and wouldn't present in court.
The State, represented by Juliet Dennis-Senabe, said they would file their aggravating circumstances before Justice Modiri Letsididi can sentence him.
Tsametse killed Ofentse to claim P50,000 from Botswana Life where he had insured his little cousin. Ofentse's lifeless body was found in the vicinity of Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School in March 2018 after disappearing with no trace.
Tsametse would then be arrested, questioned, let go, and rearrested seven days later, thanks to two Mogoditshane-based traditional healers. The first healer to take the stand was Kamogelo Keitholetse, widely known as Rabeisane following his much-publicised participation in the hunt for little Tlotlo Karema in Lobatse last year.
Even though there were inconsistencies in their statements, Keitholetse’s colleague Lemogang Rukuyo also reiterated Keitholetse’s statement that Tsametse had told them he had killed someone. After the first few witnesses took the stand, it was time for Keitholetse. He was arrested while taking a bath in the care of Rabeisane and Rukuyo, who called the police on him. In his judgment, Justice Letsididi stated that Rabeisane's testimony was factual and uncontested, noting the failure of Ngwenya, to fully challenge the evidence. He also highlighted that Rabeisane had a corroborating witness.
'Keitlhotse, also known as Rabeisane, testified in early 2018 that Tsametse approached him for cleansing after taking a human life. It was undisputed that Tsametse sought help to be cleansed for killing a person,' Letsididi remarked. Letsididi expressed admiration for Rabeisane's honesty and clarity during cross-examination.
'He really impressed me as a witness who is honest and truthful. His testimony was lucid, clear enough, and he had a clear conscience of stating out the truth and also stood out during the cross-examination,' he remarked. 'I now see the witness as an honest and true witness in this case.' He also commended fellow traditional man, Rukuyo, as trustworthy and corroborative. Letsididi indicated that the P50,000 claim Tsametse made shortly after Ofentse's death raised suspicions. Botswana Life then approached the police to investigate any wrongdoing by the accused.
Considering all the evidence presented, the judge found Tsametse guilty of killing Ofentse, who was a Form 2 student staying with his aunt, Tsametse's mother.