Murder convict awaits sentence

Mpho Mokwape | Thursday May 8, 2014 10:55

 

Obakeng Segogo of Monwane settlement in Kweneng District faces the death sentence after Justice David Newman found him guilty of a single count of murder yesterday.

Segogo is said to have assaulted Keolebogile Kaone with fists, smashed her head with a spade until she became unconscious and then stabbed her with scissors.

Yesterday, his defence lawyer, Kesego Malete pleaded with the court to consider that his client was heavily intoxicated on the day of the crime, had been under extreme stress and was a first time offender.

Segogo pleaded guilty to the murder charge, which his lawyer said indicated that he took responsibility and was saving taxpayers’ money from a lengthy trial. “He is also remorseful that he took someone’s life. Please also consider that the deceased and my client have a four year-old child who needs care, which has been provided for by the accused. “Segogo has been the sole provider for the child since the murder when he was out of jail.

“The thought of informing the child later in life that he took her mother’s life, will haunt him forever.” Malete stated that Segogo had spent 10 months in prison between his arrest and bail applications since 2011.

However, the prosecutor, Elang Keitumetse said during his narration of events leading to the murder, Segogo’s memory had been crystal clear, showing that he was not heavily intoxicated as he claimed.

“Clearly it shows that he was not that heavily drunk as he remembers everything and it should not be used as a excuse to escape punishment.

He was clearly aware of what he was doing and the consequences,” said Keitumetse. He said that even if the accused was stressed on the fateful day as he claims, this did not give him the right to assault and murder someone.