No bail for Masilo
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday April 30, 2014 11:48
Murder accused, Thabo Masilo’s stay in prison was sustained yesterday after the Lobatse High Court denied him bail.Justice Lot Moroka yesterday rejected the 22 year-olds appeal for bail. Masilo has been in custody since November 2012 and is accused of raping and murdering 17 year-old Tshephang Motlhare, who was a St Joseph’s student at her Phase 4 home.
In a short ruling yesterday, Moroka said he had considered the merits and demerits of the bail application and had decided that Masilo is better off in custody.
“After considering all the merits of the bail application, bail has been refused. The accused shall remain in custody pending trial,” said Moroka.
In a previous bail application hearing, Masilo’s lawyer, Kgosietsile Ngakaagae, told the court that his client had been in custody for a long time only because the court feared for his safety.
Ngakaagae argued that in the years since the alleged incident, previously enraged members of the public had calmed down. He blamed the media for blowing the case out of proportion and failing to treat Masilo like other accused people.
Ngakaagae had also submitted that Masilo should be granted bail, as there was no threat of him fleeing the country, contrary to what the state had submitted.
“There is also no way the accused can possibly tamper with investigations because all investigations have been completed,” he said, adding that, “He is liable for bail like any other accused person and there is also no need to assume that he would escape the country”. The state, through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions Prosecutor, Khumoetsile Tirelo, had argued that Masilo’s bail remains a threat to other women in society.
Tirelo said that there was nothing stopping Masilo from repeating the offence and it was in the society’s best interest to keep him behind bars until his judgment day.
Yesterday, Tirelo told Mmegi that the state now awaits the High Court to furnish it with trial dates for the murder charge. She said all documents have been submitted to the High Court to allow the trial to begin.
Tirelo said the State would now shift focus to Masilo’s rape and robbery trial due in a few weeks. Masilo, a former Botho University student, will appear before Magistrate Linah Oahile at the Village Magistrates Court between May 26 and May 30 on the rape and robbery charges.