No fingerprints from crime scene
Sharon Mathala | Friday September 26, 2014 14:53
During cross-examination, detective Inspector Mmilili Mashabile admitted that the crucial investigation element of extraction of fingerprints was missing.
Ngakayagae also questioned Mashabile as to why in all the statements recorded from the witnesses, there was no mention of Masilo’s obvious prominent physical features.
“We agree that Masilo has a prominent forehead, you can see it just by looking at him, he also has a flat nose and an oval shaped head. Why is there no mention of this in the statements?” Ngakayagae said.
“None of the witnesses that described the said assailant mentioned these prominent features,” he further noted.
Furthermore, Ngakayagae put it to Mashabile that, “the age range which both witnesses had estimated was inaccurate, they differed on the criminal’s complexion, they failed to mention his prominent features, they could not have possibly been talking about Thabo Masilo”.
He also interrogated Mashabile on why there was no record of fingerprints at the crime scene. He said while they alleged there was blood there was no record of any DNA test.
Mashabile explained that when they arrived at the scene, he was in the company of a fingerprint expert, but no fingerprints were extracted. He told a nearly empty courtroom that it would be impractical to do a DNA test, as a “control” was needed in order to match the DNAs of the samples.
Mashabile will take the stand again for the last time on October 13, when the defence is expected to rest.
In this on going trial, Masilo is facing charges of rape and robbery.
The state alleges that the 22-year-old former Botho University student brutally raped and robbed a woman in her Phase IV home on August 9, 2012, causing her grievous bodily harm in the process.
Previously Mashabile told the court that after the alleged incident he had no leads.
He said that on November 18, 2012 the victim and her brother came to the office with a newspaper and identified the man in an article as their assailant. Mashabile said that at the time Masilo was at the Moshupa Boys’ Prison.
He further said on April 13, 2013, he received an alibi that Masilo was not in Gaborone on the day of the alleged crimes but was in Shoshong where his mother used to teach.
The person who made the statement, who is Masilo’s uncle, later retracted.