Maunatlala trio appear for Independence Day murder

| Wednesday November 5, 2014 14:34

According to the charge sheet, Thatayaone Morotsi, 27, Thapelo Tshekiso, 21, Moemedi Onamile, 21 are alleged to have acted jointly and in concert on September 30 this year and murdered Batsile Dihale at Maunatlala.

The three, all from Maunatlala, have said they would conduct their own defence. While Morotsi and Tshekiso are unemployed, the third accused, Onamile is a garden boy at Bakwena Farms in the village. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) prosecutor, Lindani Baiketile pleaded for the accused persons to be remanded in custody pending investigations.

“Investigations are still ongoing, therefore I pray for the accused persons to be incarcerated for the next 14 days,” said Baiketile. He explained that they were still awaiting laboratory results as part of their real evidence, which he said, had been sent to Gaborone for analysis. “Furthermore, we have not yet received the postmortem report and we are on the final lap of collecting witness statements. We hope that by the end of this month we will be done with the collection of statements,” Baiketile said.

When asked if they had anything to say, the first and second accused persons pleaded for bail.

“I pray for this court to give me bail because I have problems at home. I have young children to take care of. I am the breadwinner in the family,” pleaded Morotsi. But Motsamai dismissed the accused persons appeal.

“Be advised that I do not entertain bail applications in cases of murder. That is so because the magistrate has not sufficient powers to grant bail in murder cases. Bail could only be granted by the High Court in such cases. So, if you want to apply for bail, do it at the High Court,” said Motsamai.

Motsamai therefore ruled that the accused persons be remanded in custody until November 18. The accused persons will also appear in court on the said date for further mention.