�Court hates Masilo� - attorney

| Friday August 1, 2014 15:44

 

The 22-year-old former Botho University student is alleged to have brutally raped and robbed a woman in her Phase IV home on August 9, 2012, causing her grievous bodily harm in the process. He is also alleged to have stolen property including a Samsung and a Nokia cellphone.

On Wednesday, the state called the third of four witnesses, medical doctor Achinne Mbandanzo to give his account. He told court that a female patient said to have been assaulted had arrived at Julia Molefhe Clinic on August 9, 2012. He attended to the patient before referring her to Prince Marina Hospital.

“As I tried to stop the bleeding I noticed three wounds, one cut which was around 2cm was on her left eyelid, the other wound 3cm deep was on her nose, the last one, which was the worst of them was on her head, it was bleeding a lot and it could have been about 5cm deep,” he explained.

Ngakaagae was however unimpressed with the doctor’s testimony. He refused to cross-examine the witness and instead charged that the doctor’s statement was biased against Masilo.

“I will not push this further because there is no hope, but we see what is happening within the four corners of this court; anyone can see that the prosecution is favoured by the court. I have to take a position for my client. I could spend the whole day cross examining him, but my client is hated by this court,” he seethed.

Magistrate Linah Mokibe responded to the now agitated Ngakagae’s allegation by asserting that the court had made its decision. “If you feel it’s wrong and unfair, then you can lodge an appeal,” she said. Ngakaagae has previously called on the presiding officer Magistrate Lenah Oahile-Mokibe to recuse her from the case claiming he has lost faith in the magistrate’s impartiality and objectivity.

Masilo will appear in court again on August 29 where the state is expected to present their final witness, an investigation officer at the Mogoditshane Police Station.

–         In a separate case, Masilo is charged with the murder of a 17-year-old St. Joseph’s College female student on November 16, 2012. The sensational murder dominated newspaper headlines and roused public comment, with images of Masilo’s capture going viral on social media. The case, which is now before the High Court has not been allocated a trial date.