How Khama's mercy claimed four lives
Sharon Mathala | Thursday May 8, 2014 14:45
Yesterday the female victim from the prior incident, Neo Motlhale (62), told Mmegi at Ratsheru lands, 50 kilometres from Molepolole, that Lehupu had stabbed her with a knife on her abdomen and forehead after a money dispute.
“He stabbed me on the left side of my stomach and just above my right eye,” she recounted at the scene of Sunday’s family massacre.
“He was sentenced to a year in prison, but only spent three months, before receiving the pardon. “They said it was because he was a first offender.” In separate interviews, Lehupu’s relatives painted a tragic picture of an innocent, hard-working child who had devolved into a terror in his community.
“He was one of those children who would help around the house with chores but at times, he was a handful,” said a woman who identified herself as Lehupu’s aunt, but declined to be named.
“He was raised by his grandmother and their relationship was quite good.”
Police say only two family members escaped on Sunday when Lehupu allegedly axed his grandfather and aunt to death, before kraaling and burning his grandmother and a three year-old niece in a hut.
A Mmegi news crew witnessed several burnt-out huts around the Lehupu homestead, where family and community members walked around the embers of their possessions in a state of disbelief. In several areas, freshly dug shallow patches were visible, where family members had used soil to conceal the pools of blood left after Sunday’s attack.
“We were at our (deceased) aunt’s home at around 5pm on Sunday,” said Keoagile Tshotlego, a 17 year-old survivor of the incident.
“We had been expecting her to come home around that time and we heard her chuckling as she approached us.
“Minutes later we heard screams coming from her direction and we rushed there and were met with a big torch light. Before we knew what was happening, he chased us and I ran to my grandfather (deceased)’s place.”
Keoagile says he had been waiting for his aunt with her daughter, who is the mother to the deceased three year-old. In running to his grandfather, Keoagile claims Lehupu was hot on his heels and burst into the homestead, attacking the perplexed family members gathered there. “He narrowly missed his mother with the axe, then turned on our grandfather who was trying to intervene,” recalled Keoagile. Other relatives said the aunt was the first victim, struck with an axe, followed by the grandfather again. Lehupu allegedly killed his grandmother by shoving her into one of the burning huts, while the three year-old child died in the hut.
Lehupu’s father, Ontebetse Mokaikai (42) told Mmegi that he had an argument with his son last Wednesday, with relations between the two deteriorating ahead of Sunday’s incident. “He assaulted me and I reported him to the police,” Mokaikai said.
“The police said they would come and arrest him on Friday, but they then told me they would come on Monday. Upon hearing that the police were to arrest him, my son threatened to kill us all. “Sunday morning, I was informed that he was looking for me. At around 5pm I heard screams coming from a nearby bush and after meeting him, he chased me with an axe.”
Lehupu faces 10 charges including murder and attempted murder and will appear in court for mention on May 20 at the Molepolole Magistrate Court.
The deceased family members are due to be buried in Molepolole on Saturday. Police have provided the family with tents for memorial services.
Chronology of the Massacre
Wednesday April 29, 2014
Father tells police an argument with his son has turned violent. Files assault claim
Friday May 02, 2014
Police tell father they will arrest son on Monday
Saturday May 03, 2014
Accused allegedly tells his father that he will not see the light of day by the time the police arrive
Sunday May 04, 2014 (am)
Witnesses claim to see accused sharpening his axe
Sunday May 04, 2014 (pm)
Accused allegedly searches for his father in the area
Sunday May 04, 2014
(1700hrs – 2000hrs) Accused allegedly kills aunt with an axe
Accused allegedly chases down father with an axe, who escapes
Accused allegedly kills grandfather and begins to torch huts
Grandmother attempts to rescue sleeping children and manages to save one
Accused allegedly shoves grandmother into burning hut as she attempts to retrieve second child. Grandmother and child die
Accused allegedly torches huts at deceased aunt’s homestead
Sunday May 04, 2014 (2100hrs)
Police respond to reports of a family massacre and later apprehend accused sleeping at another relative’s homestead
Monday May 05, 2014 (1000hrs)
Grandmother and child’s charred bodies are discovered in a burnt hut
Tuesday May 06, 2014 (0800hrs)
Lehupu appears in the Molepolole Magistrate Court facing 10 charges for mention