Key witness in double murder takes the stand
Larona Makhaiza | Tuesday March 3, 2026 16:48
What began as a late night request for a P300 loan would unfold into a key thread in a murder trial as State witness, Mark Mpofu’s testimony shifted the court’s focus to a black Huawei cellphone belonging to accused Tshepiso Letsididi.
Letsididi is accused of brutally killing then 54-year-old Hubona Mhaladi and her 10-year-old grandchild Laofa Mmamorepo at their home in Molepolole. Trial continued this morning before Judge Oteng Motlhala of the Gaborone High Court.
Recounting the day of the events, Mpofu told the court that he has known the accused since February 2022 whom he knew at the time by the name of ‘Thabo’. He described him as one of the kids who used to pass by his home at Mmopane Block 1.
However, Mpofu said things escalated on November 14, 2022 when the accused pulled up outside his unfenced yard in a silver Toyota Camry.
“We met on November 14, 2022 at around 8pm. He was driving a silver Camry B 882 BPS. He stopped outside the yard with the car. I approached him where he then asked me if I do remember him? I said I do,” Mpofu said.
The aforementioned Camry would later be found abandoned near Metsimotlhabe as it had run out of fuel and it belonged to the deceased. Following the short introductory remarks, Mpofu said the accused had asked for a loan of P300, which he outrightly denied. He added that the accused was persistent with the request for the loan and he eventually asked if he had something he could take from him as collateral.
“I looked at the car and it had a dent on the side of it and I asked him who the owner was but he said it’s a courtesy car. He then said he had a phone and I asked to see it,” Mpofu said.
The witness described the phone as a black Huawei smart phone which he agreed to take as collateral for a short loan.
“We agreed that I remain with the phone until he brings my money and he agreed. I gave him P200 as that’s the money I had and he left shortly,” he said. Mpofu revealed that at the time he was repairing his phone, so he put his sim cards in the Huawei phone the next day. Shortly after that Mpofu said he received a call from Mogoditshane Police Station asking him to report to the police station regarding the phone.
“I found two CID officers from Molepolole who asked me about the phone I was using and I showed it to them. They took out papers with serial numbers for the phone and they were identical with the phone I had,” he said. After confirming that the serial numbers matched, Mpofu told court that officers informed him it was connected to a double murder case.
He was later taken to Molepolole Police Station to give a statement and later asked to identify both the accused and the impounded vehicle, which he said he recognised by its number plate, dent and colour. Under cross-examination by the defence attorney Itumeleng, Mpofu was accused to be a criminal who had previously bought stolen goods from Letsididi such as phones, television and even ammunition. He rejected the claims outright.
“I am not a criminal. I work hard for myself and my children,” he said firmly. With 13 witnesses still to testify, the trial will continue in April 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13. The case continues.